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Lanka was concerned that any special unit should
avoid any possible charge of interference in
countries' internal affairs; a purely 'promotional'
role would ensure this. Australia was ready to
endorse the proposal for a special unit; Cyprus gave
it qualified support. Uganda and India preferred
further discussion of both proposals and the latter
encouraged other countries to adhere to UN
conventions.
Nigeria was concerned with the
Bangladesh felt
financial implications of both recommendations; the
UK (Annex D) echoed this concern.
that the proposed Advisory Committee would duplicate
the work of existing UN bodies, and were therefore
unable to accept its establishment; they suggested
further discussion at the CLMM. (Zimbabwe and
Malaysia spoke in similar, but less dogmatic, terms).
Additionally, Bangladesh considered both proposals to
be inseparable, and could not therefore agree to a
special unit. Australia and Malawi agreed that the
Advisory Comittee should be further discussed on
another occasion. Grenada felt that it was necessary
to have an agreed definition of human rights to
provide a clear framework for the work of a special
unit and the Advisory Committee. Seychelles and
Zimbabwe took the same line. The Chairman (Deputy
Secretary-General) referred to the Singapore
Declaration of Commonwealth Principles of 1971 (see
Annex D) and said he thought that the Commonwealth
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