Al-Saud Statements Responding or Addressing Human Rights Violations

A 1997 Statement by the U.N. Delegation of Saudi Arabia

Mr. President.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which the Conference adopted this evening, will form part of the programmes, codes and conventions governing human rights. This Declaration, like previous declarations that were issued here in this ancient city of Vienna, reflects this city's time honoured heritage. It is not so long since another conference, of a similarly unique and sacred nature, was held here. I am referring to the Conference on the Christian-Islamic dialogue, which was held at Your Excellency's kind invitation. Like our present Conference, it made diligent endeavours for the benefit of mankind as a whole and called for cooperation, reconciliation, love and tolerance among all peoples and earnest efforts to safeguard the sacrosanct integrity of the human person. The important issues covered by this Declaration, which was adopted by consensus, should help some peoples to free themselves from foreign occupational and should help others to exercise their right to self-determination or to avoid repression, captivity, torture, displacement, rape and murder in so far as the lofty objective to which we are aspiring is to turn the world into a vast oasis characterized just and comprehensive peace, stability, security, peace of mind and all types of freedom.

The work of this Conference has been crowned with success by virtue of your experience and wisdom and the efforts made by the members of the secretariat who made the preparatory arrangements, particularly the Secretary-General, Mrs. Warzazi, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and the Rapporteur. We pray to Almighty God that the persons responsible for its application will be fully successful in their efforts so that all persons can enjoy, on an equal footing, the rights that Almighty God has bestowed on them. We will thus be applying the words of Christ, the Messiah of peace on earth and in heaven, "Love each other as a I have loved you". We will also be applying the verse of the Holy Qur'an "Hold fast to the rope of God and do not become separated", as well as the other noble verse "Act, so that god, His Prophet and the believers will see you actions".

Thank you. Peace be with you and the mercy and blessings of God.

Saudi Address to the UN in December 1996