France apologizes to US over UN human rights post dispute
France issues a diplomatic apology to the US after a row over a UN post criticizing Washington's stance on extending the human rights chief's mandate.
Key Takeaways
AIFrance has issued a formal apology to the United States, six weeks after a diplomatic dispute erupted over a post by its UN mission criticizing Washington's vote on extending the mandate of Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk.
The controversial post claimed that the United States was no longer a "beacon for human rights," and noted that Washington had sided with North Korea, Russia, Nicaragua, and Mali in the vote, according to Al Arabiya.
In response to the post, Washington froze approval of Aurélien Lechevallier as France's new ambassador to the United States, deepening the rift between the two countries.
The crisis escalated further when American diplomats walked out of a Security Council meeting during the French ambassador's speech, highlighting the tension between the sides.
Washington's response to the French apology
The United States welcomed the French apology and expressed appreciation for the statement issued by Paris to resolve the dispute.