U.S. regains U.N. Human Rights seat

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The United States has regained its seat on the 53-member United Nations Commission on Human Rights, a position it lost last year for the first time since the commission was established in 1947.

Last year's vote removing the United States from the panel -- while nations such as Sudan, Libya and Cuba were represented -- unleashed U.S. political fury.

The move was seen as a humiliation for the United States.

Several weeks ago, Spain and Italy agreed to withdraw their candidacies so that the U.S. could take their place. As a result, the U.S. candidacy was uncontested.

After the meeting, the U.S. representative on this issue, Sichan Siv, said the United States is pleased the two countries decided, "the collective interest was more important than their national interests on this issue."

Siv said U.S. absence from the commission meant it was not able to put through human rights resolutions on Iran, Chechnya and Zimbabwe.

Wrong signal

"Experience has shown that the commission works best when the U.S. is a full, voting member," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday in a written statement.

"The Commission on Human Rights has a serious responsibility to support people who have been deprived of their fundamental freedoms. When the commission fails to examine certain human rights situations, it sends the wrong signal to those struggling daily to fight for freedom."

Boucher said the United States was "encouraged and pleased to see that the countries of Latin America stood up for human rights and democracy in their own region, especially with regard to Cuba."

"The United States will work with our friends and allies to help live up to the principles and mission for which the commission was founded," he said.

Four vacant Western seats were filled Monday. Along with the United States, Australia, Germany, and Ireland represent the Western region.

The commission meets annually for six weeks in Geneva to examine and hear reports on human rights abuses around the world.