What specific French comments prompted the US walkout at the UN Security Council?

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US Walks Out of UN Security Council Following French Envoy's Remarks

The United States delegation walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting due to comments made by France's ambassador, who drew a comparison between the US and authoritarian states like North Korea concerning human rights votes. This action occurred during a meeting focused on the war in Ukraine, a rare move from a permanent member of the Security Council. The dispute stemmed from the US voting against extending the term of Volker Turk as the UN high commissioner for human rights.
French Ambassador's Comparison to Authoritarian States

The specific comments that prompted the US walkout were made by France's ambassador, who stated that the US now stands "alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated." This statement, posted by France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva, followed the US's vote in the General Assembly against extending Volker Turk's term. The French mission further asserted that "the world no longer listens to it" regarding human rights matters.
Context of the Human Rights Vote

The comparison was made in direct response to the United States being one of ten countries to vote against the extension of Volker Turk's mandate as UN high commissioner for human rights on the preceding Friday. In this vote, the US found itself in the company of nations such as North Korea, Russia, and Nicaragua. The US delegation official, Dan Negrea, described these French comments as "disingenuous grandstanding" and "politicized drivel."
Significance of the Security Council Walkout

A walkout from a UN Security Council meeting is a significant event, given that both France and the United States are veto-wielding permanent members of the UN's highest decision-making body. The US representative stated that they would not "afford them the benefit of listening to their politicized drivel," underscoring the US delegation's strong reaction to the perceived criticism from France.
French Mission's Stance on Human Rights Advocacy

France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva had previously declared that "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore." Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, in response to the US walkout, emphasized France's commitment to working within the UN framework to "preserve this institution, its independence, and its capacity to act in service of the charter, in service of human rights, and in service of peace."

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What specific French comments prompted the US walkout at the UN Security Council?

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