Chairwoman Hautala and Vice-Chairs Grzyb, Andrikiene, Kazak and Zemke of European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights called today for High Representative Ashton to ensure strong EU support establishment of UN Commission of Inquiries into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Burma and North Korea[:]
Brussels, September 1st, 2010
Dear High Representative
Dear Foreign Ministers
We welcome the European Union’s decision to sponsor resolutions on Burma and North Korea at the upcoming meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the European Parliament, in resolutions adopted in May and July 2010, called on the European Union to sponsor General Assembly resolutions that will pave the way for the establishment of United Nations Commission of Inquiries into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law for both Burma and North Korea. Attached to this letter are the two European Parliament resolutions.
The European Parliament expects that you will now implement our clearly articulated request and pursue the establishment of United Nations Commissions of Inquiry for both Burma and North Korea through the EU sponsored General Assembly resolutions. Such action is completely in line with the European Unions’ stated policy on combating impunity for serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations worldwide.
We would also urge you to use the upcoming human rights dialogues with the United States, South Africa, Canada, and Japan to rally support for the Burma and North Korea General Assembly resolutions including the establishment of United Nations Commission of Inquiries into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
Yours sincerely,
Heidi HAUTALA,
Andrzej GRZYB
Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ
Metin KAZAK
Janusz Władysław ZEMKE
CC. Ambassadors to the EU’s Political and Security Committee
Representatives of the EU Asia Working Party (COASI)
Representatives of the EU Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM)
