GENEVA (IRNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said on Thursday that the international community is in a decisive situation in terms of human rights owing to the modern challenges and threats to human rights made by difference of cultures and religions.

He said in his address to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, formed to replace the UN human rights commission, that dominance of a single culture in the international community is alarming. He said that under the so-called new world order, hegemony of the big powers has overshadowed legitimacy of the United Nations organs monitoring human rights in the member states.

"This has aroused the concern of the United Nations member states that the international organizations monitoring human rights records of the member states are at the service of the hegemonic powers," Mottaki said.

He deplored the fact that several thousand people in the so-called South countries have been trapped in illegitimate wars and conflicts, and human beings, women and children have fallen victims to the crimes in the Gaza Strip and Haditha of Iraq. Mass killings are being committed by or through support of the big powers against the developing nations, Mottaki said citing "the horrible torture and crimes being committed at Guantanamo Bay, and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq as some examples."

"Now, the question is whether the United Nations organs have reacted properly to such dreadful human rights violations. Have they fulfilled their responsibility to bring to justice those involved in such heinous human rights violations?" Mottaki asked.

He said that the aggressive acts of the big powers under the guise of 'preventive measures', have worsened human rights situation in the international community and at the same time the big powers do not care for their abusive practices against other nations by violating the principles of human rights of the developing nations as well as their own nations.

The Iranian foreign minister said that a single culture must not be imposed on the world community, calling for respecting cultural diversity and impartiality and non-selective approach of the human rights organizations.

He underscored equity of every human being and said that the UN Human Rights Council is expected to promote dialogue of civilizations and follow a dynamic approach and that the human rights should not be politicized.

Mottaki said that UN Human Rights Council should follow the two principles of justice and morality and the fact that liberal democracy of the West has failed to secure justice and morality in the new world order.

He said that the Human Rights Council should embark on an effective campaign against occupation in Palestine and systematic violation of human right against Palestinians.

"Human Rights Council of the United Nations should advocate return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland and holding of a democratic election in Palestine to establish a Palestinian government."

Meanwhile, Mottaki conferred in Geneva with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the latest regional and international issues, the issues Iraq, Afghanistan and the first meeting of the Human Rights Council underway in Geneva.