China commends Greece's blocking of EU statement on China human rights at U.N.

Record ID: 896085

  • Title: China commends Greece's blocking of EU statement on China human rights at U.N.
  • Date: 19th June 2017
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "With regards what what you mentioned about the discussions inside the EU, I'm not aware of the specific situation of it. We can only say here that we express appreciation to the relevant EU country for upholding the correct position." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "We always insist on constructive dialogue and communication on the human rights issue, oppose the politicization of human rights and the use of human rights issues to interfere in other countries' domestic affairs and judicial sovereignty." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 11:11
  • Keywords: EU greece EU statement China human rights United Nations
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016LY0TON
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:China commended "the relevant EU country" for its "correct position" over a European Union statement at the United Nations criticizing China's human rights records, China's foreign ministry said on Monday (June 19) in Beijing.
    The EU, which seeks to promote free speech and end capital punishment around the world, was due to make its statement last week at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, but failed to win the necessary agreement from all 28 EU states as Greece blocked the statement.
    When asked about Greece's actions at a regular briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang expressed China's appreciation and opposition to politicization of human rights.
    The impasse marked the first time the EU had failed to make its statement at the U.N.'s top rights body, rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said. Presented three times a year, the statement gives the EU a way to highlight abuses by states around the world on issues that other countries are unwilling to raise.
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