China storms out of rights talks with U.S. [View All]

[Robbien]

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State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington had sought the backing of European countries and others to co-sponsor the bill of condemnation at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva - a 53-member UN body which began its six-week annual session on March 15.

Kong, in an apparent reference to this year's US presidential electioneering, slammed the move as politically motivated and accused Washington of reneging on its commitments to resolve differences over human rights through dialogue. "The United States has violated its commitments. Its insistence on tabling an anti-China resolution is fundamentally not a question of human rights, but is a domestic political necessity that aims to use human rights to interfere in China's internal affairs," Kong said. "This method of politicizing the human rights issue is a disgrace to the sacred endeavor of human rights, is unsupportable, and futile." In retaliation, China suspended its human rights dialogue with Washington.

"The confrontation incited by the American side has damaged the foundation for the human rights dialogue and exchanges between the two countries," Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang told Randt, according to a foreign ministry statement.

"The Chinese side must immediately halt the human rights dialogue and exchanges. The American side should be held responsible for all consequences that are caused."

http://www.etaiwannews.com/China/2004/03/24/1080093382.htm