US May Withdraw from Human Rights Council

Activists and diplomats said talks with the United States on how to reform the UN Human Rights Council failed to meet Washington's demands, suggesting the US administration would withdraw from the Geneva-based council.

News ID: 70773

Date: 16 June 2018 - 15:55

TEHRAN (Defapress)- Reuters quoted a US source as saying that the withdrawal appeared "imminent" but did not elaborate.

Diplomatic sources said the question was not whether Washington would withdraw from the Geneva-based council or not, but when it would do so.

Diplomats and activists who took part in the talks in Geneva and New York for months said they could not reach an agreement on the new agenda, adding that the European Union failed to find common ground for several reasons, first and foremost is that Belgium's desire to keep Israel on the agenda of each session, Al-Masirah reported.

There is a consistent item on the Council's agenda, which was established in 2006 on suspected violations done by the Zionist entity in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is an item Washington wants to delete.

The 47-member council last month supported the investigating in Gaza deaths and accused the Zionist enemy of using excessive force. The United States and Australia were the only two countries to vote for "no"

The United States also wants to facilitate the expulsion of countries with a poor human rights record. US envoy to the United Nations Nicky Hailey described Venezuela, China and Saudi Arabia as violating stander states.

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