Cuba hails its election to top UN rights council

November 14th, 2013 (AFP) – Cuba on Wednesday hailed its election to the UN Human Rights Council, saying it was a “resounding recognition” of its work in the area.

The communist state was among 14 countries picked to be a part of the Geneva-based body Tuesday despite criticism of its rights record.

“It’s a resounding recognition of the work undertaken by our country in this field,” the official Granma newspaper quoted Anayansi Rodriguez, Cuba’s UN ambassador in Geneva, as saying.

In its cover story, Granma said Cuba would “continue in the promotion of the rights of peoples to self-determination, peace and development.”

Amid criticism, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia also won seats on the 47-member council, which is taking on increased diplomatic importance because of Syria’s civil war and other conflicts.

In the runup to the vote, groups such as Human Rights Watch and UN Watch strongly condemned their presence together with that of Cuba.

Western nations avoided any controversy over the records of others, but signaled they would press the case for action on Syria.

The council, which will start work on January 1, is seen as one of the most polarized since it was created in 2006.

Cuba won one of two Latin America seats, with 148 votes. Mexico took the other seat, garnering 145 votes.