ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Croatia did not oppose a UN resolution condemning the mass killing of Palestinians and requesting the end of the Israeli military offensive, but abstained from voting as it considered the resolution
"premature," Assistant Foreign Minister Vladimir Matek told the national television's evening newscast on Saturday.
ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Croatia did not oppose a UN resolution
condemning the mass killing of Palestinians and requesting the end
of the Israeli military offensive, but abstained from voting as it
considered the resolution "premature," Assistant Foreign Minister
Vladimir Matek told the national television's evening newscast on
Saturday. #L#
The United Nations Commission for Human Rights on Monday adopted
the resolution with 40 votes in favour, five against, and seven
abstentions, including Croatia.
Matek said Croatia was not against the resolution. The key issue at
the time was a visit by a special rapporteur and the high
commissioner for human rights to the occupied areas, he explained.
"When the Resolution was being adopted, one group of countries
maintained there still existed possibilities to negotiate the
visit and that the adoption of the Resolution was premature," said
Matek.
He added this was the "principal reason" why Croatia abstained from
voting, as did France, Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland,
Argentina, and Cameroon.
Matek said Croatia in some other resolutions "very clearly stated
its stand and explicit condemnation of every form of violence,
aggression, occupation of territories, but of terrorist acts as
well."
Croatia advocates both Israel's right to safety and the
Palestinians' right to their own state, Matek said, adding that the
abstention was the result of "certain tactical reasons."
(hina) ha