France apologises for human rights criticism that sparked US walkout
France said the dispute concerned one vote, while Washington welcomed the apology and may now clear the way for a new ambassador.
- France's permanent mission to the United Nations apologized on Friday for a July post on X questioning the United States' commitment to human rights, aiming to clear the way for its new ambassador to assume his post in Washington.
- Tensions erupted after the United States joined nine other countries in July to vote against renewing Volker Turk's mandate as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, prompting France's mission to post that the nation was 'no longer' a human rights model.
- Washington retaliated by walking out of a UN Security Council meeting when France's ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, spoke, and subsequently blocked the accreditation of Aurélien Lechevallier, whom French President Emmanuel Macron selected to replace Laurent Bili.
- U.S. officials told AFP on Saturday that Washington welcomed the apology, signaling the diplomatic standoff is over and Lechevallier's posting is expected to proceed now that the mission characterized the incident as isolated.
- France's statement emphasized that public differences on one vote 'do not call into question our historical alliance,' suggesting both nations are moving to restore close dialogue and resume cooperation on shared interests within international forums.
60 Articles
60 Articles
The French mission to the United Nations in Geneva has stated that it "regrets" the criticism regarding human rights directed at X in late July. The message led to a diplomatic conflict at the time, causing a delay in the arrival of a new French ambassador in Washington.
France has publicly apologized to the United States over the scandal with the UN and the powers of the head of the Human Rights Office
France has publicly apologized to the United States over the scandal with the United Nations and the powers of the head of the Human Rights Office.What happened:At the end of July, the French mission to the United Nations criticized the United...
France has made a diplomatic gesture to the United States, expressing regret over a publication by the French mission to the United Nations in Geneva that sparked a strong reaction from Washington. The dispute began after a publication in July in which France criticized the US vote against extending the mandate of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Paris put Washington's decision in the context of the positions of countries such …
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