Stephane de Loecker, the Belgian representative at...

Stephane de Loecker, the Belgian representative at the UN Third Committee debate on human rights, speaking on behalf of the European Union said the abolition of the death penalty would help further respect human rights. The right to life was the most basic human right.
The European Union was heartened to see some countries call for a moratorium for the death penalty, and the States that had not agreed to abolish it, or call for a moratorium, were asked to curb the number of executions as soon as possible.
Mr. De Loecker said the European Union expressed its concern about the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Iraq and Iran. There was also concern about the grave violations in Afghanistan, and it condemned the practices of the Taliban.
The European Union condemned the abandonment by Guinea of its moratorium on the death penalty, which had been in place in 1984.
The European Union was disappointed that the death penalty continued to be carried out in Guatemala
It was pleased that China was committing to United Nations human rights agreements, but there was concern about its use of capital punishment. It was also concerned about the treatment of members of Falun Gong and refugees from North Korea.
In Cuba, the European Union hoped the Government would sign certain human rights treaties and abolish capital punishment.
In the Russian Federation, the European Union welcomed the statement of President Putin against reinstating capital punishment, but it was preoccupied with the situation in Chechnya.
As Turkey was hoping to join the European Union, there was concern that capital punishment would still be applicable in times of war.