EGYPT: Chinese, Russian officials question U.N. secretary-general's remarks

Russia and China, nations that could veto U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s bid for a second term in office, have joined Egypt in criticizing his statements calling for President Hosni Mubarak to step down now.

China’s Ambassador Li Baodong said the political crisis in Egypt was an “internal affair that should be resolved by the people in Egypt,” when asked about Ban’s statements by Bloomberg News.

"These are extremely delicate internal matters that should be left to the sovereign states,” Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters Friday at United Nations headquarters in New York. “The UN should be dealing with its many tasks, which should not include poking fingers in the eyes of political leaders.”

Ban has called for an immediate “transition” in Egypt’s government and said the protests throughout the country should lead to “bold reforms, not repression,” Bloomberg reported.

Ban, in Berlin today to meet with Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, said Mubarak and top government officials should “listen more attentively and carefully” to the “genuine and real wishes” of the Egyptian people, according to wire reports.

“We have seen too much violence over the last few days and also bloodshed,” Ban said. “Now is the time for Egyptians to begin a process of peaceful and orderly transition leading to free and fair elections respecting the genuine will of the Egyptian people expressed so far through their demonstrations.”

Egypt’s Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said he has met twice in the last week with Under-Secretary-General Vijay Nambiar to register his complaints, and will express them to Ban in person once he returns to New York, Bloomberg reported.

“He has to understand what is the reality on the ground before he speaks,” Abdelaziz said of Ban. “If you look at his statements, you will see that they are just like what some other countries are saying, and that is not what we expect of him. I will discuss it with him. I need to understand where all this is coming from.”

Ban, 66, is up for reelection this year to a second five-year term in office. His candidacy could be vetoed by any of the permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S.

Ban has been criticized by some human rights groups who allege he has failed to speak out strongly against dictators.

— Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Photo: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke Friday at Humboldt University in Berlin. He has criticized the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and called for a "peaceful and orderly" transition to a new government.  Credit:  Wolfgang Kumm/AFP/Getty Images.

 

Comments

[robin]

Does China not have human rights issues? Look how Obama treated that leader. Obama has shown some clear proclivity towards groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and is reported to have met secretly with them? Does anybody really think that things will be better when Egypt is controlled by such forces? Egyptians in America were reporting that protesters were being paid by Iran. Do the math and by the way, how do you feel about sharia law?

[robin]

Human rights abuses exist all over the planet, and even in the US. China's leader recieved a warm welcome and a fancy state dinner. Does China not have human rights abuses? What is the difference because our president extended the warmest of welcomes to the Chinese leader? What is the difference here? Since the president has apparently had secret meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, it seems quite apparent that this has been in the works for a while and it is not surprizing that he supported the rioters. His sympathies are quite clear and if Americans are not going to question and demand an inquiry into all of this mess, then prepare for sharia law.

[Very Surprised Reader]

Question to the Chinese and Russian Officials: In your countries, when a husband abuses his wife and children, do your laws state that the husband has right to do so and should be left alone because it is a domestic matter? Please do not avocate gross human rights violations.

[Wendy Wyatt]

Thank you! :)

[Wendy Wyatt]

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!
--ESPECIALLY THE UNITED NATIONS!
VIOLENCE IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!

Will my post be accepted here as freedom of speech, or no?

[Wendy Wyatt]

HUMAN RIGHTS!

VIOLENCE IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!

HUMAN RIGHTS!

VIOLENCE IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!