Madrid, Spain, Nov 4, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The Spanish government has announced it will not join a block of European countries that is seeking to keep the United Nations from passing a total ban on human cloning for “therapeutic” reasons. The World Body will vote this Thursday on a proposal by Costa Rica to prohibit all types of cloning.
According to local press reports, Spain will not join the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other countries that are supporting a Belgian proposal to stop the Costa Rican initiative, which is supported by the United States and more than 40 other countries.
The United States Ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, has sent letters on the issue of cloning and the Belgian proposal to 100 countries telling them it would be “extremely unfortunate” if there were a delay in the decision which, once approved, would allow for an international convention.
“There is an urgent necessity to act now to face the growing threat of human cloning,” said Negroponte.