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The US delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting when France spoke, in a protest against comments that compared Washington’s voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states.<\/b><\/p>\n
The diplomatic row sparked on Friday after the US joined North Korea and Russia in voting against extending Volker Turk’s term as UN high commissioner for human rights. <\/p>\n
After the vote, France’s UN Mission in Geneva said: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore”.<\/p>\n
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused France of supporting someone who had been “lecturing” democratic countries while “cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors”.<\/p>\n
Turk has criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The US walkout came during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, as France was speaking.<\/p>\n
Senior US official Dan Negrea said the US delegation would continue to make similar stands until France “renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric”.<\/p>\n
The fight over Turk’s second term, which was passed with 144 states in favour, 10 against and 13 abstentions, reflects tensions between Washington and the UN.<\/p>\n
Washington has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities.<\/p>\n
On Friday, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos criticised Turk’s reappointment and said “there will be consequences” to the assembly which “tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts”. <\/p>\n
“The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding”.<\/p>\n
However, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont described Turk on Friday as ” a voice of conscience” who demonstrated “rigor and impartiality” during his first term.<\/p>\n
Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to comment on the US walkout, adding the UN expected all member states to respect the decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n