DistantNews
Support us
US Diplomat Walks Out of UN Meeting Over France's Criticism
🇸🇰 Slovakia /Conflict & Security

US Diplomat Walks Out of UN Meeting Over France's Criticism

From SME · () Slovak

Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • A U.S. diplomat walked out of a UN Security Council meeting to protest France's criticism of Washington's stance on a human rights official's mandate.
  • France had sharply criticized the U.S. for opposing the extension of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk's term.
  • The U.S. representative called France's criticism "insincere posturing" and accused Paris of trying to lecture others.

A U.S. diplomat staged a rare walkout from a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, protesting France's sharp criticism of Washington's opposition to extending the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk. The incident occurred as the French permanent representative was speaking. The U.S. delegation, led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dan Negrea, departed the chamber in response to France's strong condemnation following a vote last Friday. The U.S. was among ten countries that voted against extending Turk's mandate, a position aligned with predominantly authoritarian states.

The United States was once a model of human rights. That is no longer the case today. Today they stand isolated alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali and Russia. And the world no longer listens to them.

— French mission to the UN in GenevaFollowing the U.S. vote against extending the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

France's mission to the UN in Geneva had issued a statement after the vote, asserting, "The United States was once a model of human rights. That is no longer the case today." The statement further declared, "Today they stand isolated alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali and Russia. And the world no longer listens to them."

insincere posturing

— Dan NegreaDescribing France's criticism of the U.S. stance on the human rights commissioner's mandate.

Responding to these remarks after leaving the meeting, Negrea criticized France's stance as "insincere posturing." He accused an unnamed member of the council of feigning moral outrage and attempting to lecture others on various topics, including conflicts and human rights issues unrelated to international peace and security. The meeting itself was focused on the situation in Ukraine.

In this council, there is a member who will pretend to moral outrage and will try to lecture the rest of us on every topic, whether it is the same conflict we are discussing again today, or even topics that have nothing to do with international peace and security, such as human rights.

— Dan NegreaCriticizing France's approach during the UN Security Council meeting.

France's permanent representative to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont, defended his country's position, referencing the historical alliance between France and the United States, particularly during the U.S.'s 250th anniversary. He stated that France aims to uphold the UN's institution, its independence, and its capacity to act in accordance with the Charter, promoting human rights and peace.

France strives at the UN, both in the Security Council and the General Assembly, to preserve this institution, its independence and its ability to act in the spirit of the Charter, in the interest of human rights and in the interest of peace.

— Jérôme BonnafontDefending France's actions and commitment to the UN.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog