UN chief welcomes U.S. seeking seat in Human Rights Council

UNITED NATIONS. April 1. KAZINFORM UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Tuesday the U.S. announcement that it will seek a seat in the UN Human Rights Council.

"The Human Rights Council has a critical role to play in the protection and promotion of all human rights for all people, and the U.S. has an important contribution to make to this end," Ban said in a statement issued by his press office. "Full U.S. engagement on human rights issues is an important step toward realizing the goal of an inclusive and vibrant intergovernmental process to protect human rights around the globe," Ban said. The secretary-general said he also welcomes the announcement as "a concrete embodiment of the U.S. commitment to a 'new era of engagement.'" The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that the United States will seek a seat in the 47-member council this year in a bid to "make it more effective." "The decision is in keeping with the Obama Administration's 'new era of engagement' with other nations to advance American security interests and meet the global challenges of the 21st century," it said. The previous U.S. administration under President George W. Bush opposed the inter-governmental body and refused to be a member, asserting the body had lost its credibility because of its repeated attacks on Israel, Kazinform cites Xinhuanet.