U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, April 14, 2004

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed reporters at the noon briefing April 14.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

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U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
April 14, 2004
12:15 p.m. EDT

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Yeah. UN Human Rights Commission. Can you give us an update about where you -- what your plans are, what's happened there, what's going to happen there?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think that, as you know, the Commission is underway. They're considering a variety of country-specific and thematic resolutions. A few of them have been voted already, but really, Thursday and Friday the Commission is scheduled to vote on several key resolutions, including China, Cuba, Israel and Belarus.

We, as you know, from the White House, and I think from here, that the Secretary, the President -- the President, the Secretary and others in this building have been making phone calls to members of the Commission, have talked to other governments who are interested in these human rights situations, and encouraged votes in the direction that we would like. So we've been comparing notes with others who are encouraged about these situations and hope for the best.

QUESTION: Okay. So then I would assume, then, that on the four that you just mentioned that the first two you want yes votes on, the third one you want a no vote on, and the fourth one you want a yes vote on. You said: "China, Cuba, Israel --

MR. BOUCHER: China, Cuba, Israel and Belarus.

QUESTION: Belarus.

MR. BOUCHER: The China resolution, the first thing is the no action motion, so we're looking to defeat the no action motion.

We're looking to pass a good resolution on Cuba that makes clear the concern that many of us have about the deterioration in the human rights situation and the Cuban Government's abuses of human rights in the past year.

In terms of Israel, we've voted against resolutions on Israel because we've felt that they were unbalanced. And that appears to be the case again this year.

In terms of Belarus, there is a resolution that's co-sponsored by the United States and the European Union. We think it can send a powerful signal to the government of Belarus to begin meeting international standards. Unfortunately, Belarus has taken no meaningful steps to implement the recommendations that are contained in the 2003 resolution and the situation has deteriorated. So we would look for a resolution this year that makes that clear.

QUESTION: And Iran?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm not sure I have an update on where we stand in Iran at the Commission. I'll have to get something for you on that.

Yeah.

QUESTION: I'm sorry. I have just one more on this. Are those the only four that you have special interests that are coming up for votes on Thursday and Friday?

MR. BOUCHER: Oh, we have a great many interests, but I think those are the --

QUESTION: I know. I mean special interests though. China you're supporting; Cuba you've always done; Israel you've always taken that position; and Belarus you've been increasingly critical of over the past several years.

MR. BOUCHER: China, we're opposing the no action resolution, and then seeking a resolution.

QUESTION: No, I know. But you don't -- but it's your resolution on China. So you have a special interest in it?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Yeah. Is there any -- are there any other ones that you have a special interest in?

MR. BOUCHER: There may be others that we have sponsored or co-sponsored that I'll have to check on and see.

Yeah.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Anything new with Hong Kong? Last weekend there is a big protest by the democracy activists in Hong Kong. Do you have anything new on Hong Kong?

MR. BOUCHER: Yes. I'll get you something on the situation in Hong Kong. We've been following that closely.

(The briefing was concluded at 12:55 p.m.)

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