News Release, May 3, 2001

DIAZ-BALART BLASTS U.N. COUNCIL FOR EXPELLING U.S.

Washington, DC - Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) blasted the United Nations Economic and Social Council today for expelling the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Commission for the first time since the commission's inception in 1947. "Unfortunately, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights has more and more become a club of tyrannies, with the inclusion of dictatorships such as those from Sudan, China,  Lybia and Vietnam.  The Cuban dictatorship is automatically re-elected as a member every year as well.  The expulsion of the U.S. simply shows the true nature of the membership of a significant portion of that commission.  I am confident that the United States Congress will take note of what is, unfortunately, really happening to the United Nations," said Diaz-Balart. The United Nations Human Rights Commission recently completed its annual meeting in Geneva, where 22 governments voted in support of a Czech resolution condemning the Cuban dictatorship for its atrocious human rights violations.  Diaz-Balart personally traveled to Geneva in April to lobby in support of the Czech resolution condemning the Cuban dictatorship.