NEWS

November 19th, 2011

UNITED NATIONS, November 18 .- The condemnation of the use of mercenaries today faces strong resistance from the United States and the European Union (EU) as the result of a vote on the issue at the United Nations, reported PL.

The refusal of both powers was evident in the decision on the draft resolution Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, proposed by Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Belarus.

Approved with 118 votes in favor, 52 against, with five abstentions, the states that opposed were led by the United States, France and Britain, permanent members of the Security Council, plus Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Portugal, who have temporary seats on that organ.

With the abstention of Colombia, the other members of the Security Council who voted for the document were Russia and China (permanent members), and Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, India and South Africa.

The text says that the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and it draws attention to the use of mercenaries by private military security companies, and requires a ban on these firms from intervention in armed conflicts.