PARIS: Meeting for the first time since Sept 11, the UN’s Commission on Human Rights, which holds its 58th annual session in Geneva this week, is expected to hand down a number of major decisions, notably with regard to Israeli rights violations in the Palestinian territories and to “Taliban” being held captive at Guantanamo.

One of the principal participants in the session, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, has let it be known that France wants above all to have the UNCHR redefine its concept of human rights in light of the new international situation that has become apparent since Sept 11.

If he gets his way, Mr Vedrine wants the UNCHR to take a firm stand on the imprisonment of Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo, a situation that he considers “intolerable”.

Among the principal questions that he wants the UNCHR to answer will be with regard to the legality of the decision by the United States to try certain prisoners before special military tribunals.

The special courts, described by US sources as “military committees of three to seven members,” will hand down definitive decisions that cannot be appealed.

Queried on Friday on the French position, Mr Vedrine noted that “our position is that whatever is the status of our nationals, in whichever way their situation is defined, the detainees must benefit from all possible guarantees provided by international law.” Mr Vedrine also reiterated France’s position that French prisoners being held at Guantanamo should be able to be judged on French soil.

Israel is also expected to be severely condemned by the UNCHR for its wholesale violation of human rights notably with regard to recent incursions into Palestinian territories.

The condemnations concern the systematic violation of human rights by Israeli occupying forces, also the illegal occupation of the Golan and Southern Lebanon — texts to be presented by several Arab states — but also the illegal establishment of colonies by the Israelis, to be introduced by the European Union.

This year will be the first in more than a half-century where the US will not be present to veto any condemnation of Israel.