France apologises for human rights criticism that sparked US walkout
France said the post was about one UN vote, not human rights, and Washington welcomed the apology as approval for its next envoy remained stalled.
- 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.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Diplomatic Detente: France Apologizes to the U.S. Amid Human Rights Dispute
France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva has expressed regret over a social media post criticizing the U.S. on human rights issues. This sparked a diplomatic spat delaying the appointment of a new French ambassador to Washington. The issue revolves around a vote concerning U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk.
France apologises for human rights criticism that sparked US walkout
France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva has said it "regrets" criticising the United States over human rights in a social media post that triggered a diplomatic dispute which has delayed the arrival of a new French ambassador in Washington.
The French Mission to the United Nations apologizes again for a tweet that criticized Washington ' s vote on extending the mandate of the Commissioner for Human Rights, balancing the relationship with the United States and opening the way for the adoption of the new French Ambassador.
After the United States voted against the extension of the mandate of UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, France reacted unaccustomedly: "The United States used to be a beacon of human rights. Now no longer, it was said on X. Paris apologized for this now.
Liberation
nicematin.comThe Case of the French Ambassador to Washington on the Way to Being Resolved After the Paris Regrets
The takeover of the French diplomat Aurélien Lechevallier was delayed due to a dispute between the two countries. At the end of July, France published a message on X which called into question the United States' commitment to human rights.
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