France Apologizes Over UN Human Rights Vote Dispute, U.S.-France Tensions Remain | WPN World People News

France’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva issued a statement on the 11th expressing regret over its earlier criticism of the United States for opposing the extension of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk’s term. France stressed that although the two countries took different positions in a UN vote, the disagreement would not affect their historic alliance or future cooperation. U.S. officials welcomed the French statement on the 12th.

In its statement, issued in English, France said that it and the United States had taken different positions in a recent UN General Assembly vote, stressing that “the disagreement concerned only one vote and was not about the defense of human rights.” France emphasized that differences in their public positions would not prevent the two countries from maintaining dialogue or undermine their historic alliance. The two sides can continue to cooperate in multilateral international organizations to promote peace, stability and prosperity, it said.

The diplomatic dispute stemmed from a July 24 UN General Assembly vote on Turk’s reappointment. The United States and nine other countries voted against the resolution, but it was ultimately adopted with 144 votes in favor, 10 against and 13 abstentions, giving Turk another four-year term.

France’s permanent mission in Geneva subsequently criticized the United States in a post on X, saying that the United States had once been a “beacon of human rights” but was no longer one. The remarks angered Washington. A U.S. representative even walked out in protest while the French representative was speaking at a UN Security Council meeting.

Amid the dispute, the U.S. government also delayed approving the appointment of Aurélien Lechevallier, French President Emmanuel Macron’s nominee for the next French ambassador to the United States. Lechevallier was scheduled to replace the current ambassador, Laurent Bili, in September. He currently serves as chief of staff to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Following France’s statement of regret, the diplomatic standoff between the two countries could ease, and Lechevallier’s appointment may subsequently receive U.S. approval.