UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (UPI) -- The United States says it won't seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council whose formation it voted against last month.
But the U.S. State Department in Washington also said Thursday it would support the new Geneva-based panel to replace the disgraced Human Rights Commission.
However, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told reporters Washington could more effectively work for human rights by not being on the 47-member panel. He also said already there were eight candidates for the seven seats allotted the region the United States belongs to, the Western Europe and Others Group. General Assembly voting takes place May 9.
"I believe this rather strongly, that our leverage in terms of the performance of the new council is greater by the United States not running, sending a signal this is not business as usual this year than if we were to run," he said. "Now next year we will see."
The Washington announcement ended, "The United States will likely run for the council next year."
Washington has made it clear it will work with to make the council successful despite its negative vote in the assembly.
The State Department announcement was welcomed by President Jan Eliasson of the U.N. General Assembly, the new council's parent body.
"He welcomes the fact that the United States will work cooperatively to make the council as strong and as effective as possible, and that it will support and fund the council," said Eliasson's spokeswoman, Pragati Pascale. "He hopes that the United States will be a candidate for membership in the Council as soon as possible, and welcomes the indication that the United States is considering running for membership next year."
