The French mission in Geneva said the US 'is no longer a beacon of human rights' and is isolated alongside North Korea and Russia, after Washington voted against extending the term of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The US State Department expressed 'very disappointed' with the 'irresponsible and disrespectful rhetoric' and said it is responding accordingly. The spat comes as Washington reportedly considers delaying or blocking the appointment of France's new ambassador, scheduled to begin September 1, according to Reuters.
The diplomatic row between Washington and Paris escalated Wednesday evening after the French mission to the United Nations in Geneva posted a sharp rebuke of the United States, accusing it of abandoning its role as a human rights leader. The post came after the US voted against extending the term of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, alongside countries including Russia, North Korea, and Nicaragua.
The US State Department responded swiftly, with a source telling Reuters the administration was 'very disappointed' by the 'irresponsible and disrespectful rhetoric' and that it would respond accordingly. The department's criticism follows a Reuters report earlier Wednesday that Washington was considering delaying or blocking the appointment of France's new ambassador to the US, who was scheduled to begin his post on September 1.
The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday that the US was weighing the delay over the Geneva post. The new statements from both sides represent a public escalation in a dispute that threatens to strain ties between the two NATO allies.
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