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PoliticsUS delegation walks out of UN Security Council during French speech
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A major diplomatic incident occurred at the UN Security Council on Monday when US representatives demonstratively left the chamber as France's UN Ambassador Jérome Bonnafont began speaking. The walkout was triggered by French criticism of the US for voting against extending the mandate of UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk. France had compared the US to North Korea, stating that Washington 'stands isolated alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, and Russia' and that 'the world no longer listens to them.' US diplomat Dan Negrea condemned the French remarks as 'hypocritical grandstanding' and said the US left because France was lecturing on topics unrelated to international peace and security, such as human rights. The meeting was originally convened to discuss the war in Ukraine. Both France and the US are permanent members of the Security Council with veto power.
Source report
France's UN Ambassador Jérome Bonnafont. Source: Eduardo Munoz / REUTERS
A diplomatic scandal has shaken the UN Security Council: US participants demonstratively left the hall during the speech of the French ambassador. The trigger was a comparison with North Korea.
North Korea Comparison Sparks Outrage
The controversy began on Friday, when the UN General Assembly voted on a four-year extension of the mandate of UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk. The United States was one of ten countries—alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, and Russia—to vote against extending Türk's term.
In response, the French UN mission in Geneva issued a statement:
"The USA was once a beacon of human rights. It no longer is. Today, it stands isolated alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, and Russia. And the world no longer listens to them."
US Responds with Walkout
On Monday, during a UN Security Council meeting focused on the war in Ukraine, US diplomat Dan Negrea condemned the French remarks as "hypocritical grandstanding."
"There is a member of this council that feigns moral outrage and acts as if it can lecture us all on any topic," Negrea said, apparently referring to France.
He added that these "lectures" occurred "even on topics that have nothing to do with international peace and security, such as human rights." For this reason, the US delegation left the Security Council meeting as France's UN Ambassador Jérome Bonnafont began to speak.
Key Context
- France and the United States are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, each holding veto power.
- Monday's meeting was convened to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Reporting by afp/ceb
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US Delegation Storms Out of UN Security Council During French Speech Over North Korea Comparison