France apologises for criticising US’ human rights record after backlash
The French UN mission said it regretted an online post criticising how the United States voted during a UN General Assembly meeting, with US officials saying on Saturday that Washington appreciated the statement. France’s permanent mission to the UN published the apology on Friday, saying it regretted a social media post criticising the US’ commitment to human rights. “France and the United…
France's permanent mission to the United Nations issued an apology on Friday for a social media post that criticized the United States' commitment to human rights. The mission stated that France and the US recently held different positions on a vote at the United Nations General Assembly, but emphasized that this disagreement did not undermine their close dialogue or historical alliance.
The apology was well-received by Washington, which had delayed the appointment of France's next ambassador to the US due to the controversy. A US State Department official expressed appreciation for France's statement and indicated a willingness to continue working together to advance shared values and interests. The dispute arose after the US voted against extending Volker Turk’s term as UN human rights chief, joining a list of countries including North Korea, Russia, and Nicaragua.
France's criticism of the US followed its strong opposition to Turk's reappointment, which the French mission deemed a reflection of the US’s changing stance on human rights.
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