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French Govt told off by PRC on Human Rights Diplomacy

tun_dr_m

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-12/16/content_10510674.htm

先驱评论:西方“人权外交”难以为继
2008年12月16日 08:36:29  来源:国际先驱导报
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  在中法再度交恶、法国利益严重受损的背景之下,法国外长对于“人权外交”的反思,显然是有感而发

资料图片:萨科齐又在西藏问题上“走钢丝”。路透社 [图片来源:国际先驱导报]

2008年是联合国通过并颁布《世界人权宣言》60周年,就在全球各地特别是西方纷纷举行众多庆祝活动之际,一向以捍卫人权著称的法国却传出了“不和谐”的声音。

12月10日,法国外交部长库什内在法国《巴黎人报》发表的一篇专访中承认,过去他向总统萨科齐建议设立“人权国务秘书”一职是“一个错误”,因为外交无法处处以人权为原则决定与其他国家的交往。

众所周知,库什内来自法国主张“人权高于主权”的左派阵营,而他本人也是活跃的“人权活动家”,以至于他这番“拨乱反正”式的结论发表后引发轩然大波和招致左派的强烈批评。

  “人权外交”弊端重重

“人权外交”正式在西方登台亮相是上世纪70年代末的美国,是出于改变美苏争霸中不利的局面和转移本国尖锐的矛盾、政治信任危机而应运而生的。冷战结束后,“人权”便上升为西方最主要的外交工具和价值观,甚至一度演变成“人权高于主权”,以残存的冷战思维对他国事务横加干涉。

为此,不惜以保护阿尔巴尼亚族人权的名义发动“科索沃战争”,却造成了塞族更大的人道灾难。2003年,美国高举人权大旗出兵伊拉克的后果却是把该国变成全球最不安全的国家之一,民众生活水平大幅度倒退,而美国也深陷其中不可自拔。而更令西方尴尬的是,当俄罗斯效仿西方以相同的理念(制止种族清洗)、相同的手法(承认南奥塞梯独立)来对付西方支持的格鲁吉亚时,西方回应的武器居然是他们认为早已过时和抛弃的“主权”概念,颇令西方有“搬起石头砸自己的脚”之感。也难怪库什内不得不承认对西方“双重标准”的批评“有一部分是事实”。

更何况,西方国家自身也并非毫无瑕疵,法国以人权为名干涉他国的正当性就由于今年卢旺达政府的“种族灭绝”起诉案和欧委会对“法国在处理非法移民问题上违反人道精神”的严重批评而受到严重冲击和否定。

应该说西方这种单边“人权外交”遇到的挑战和困境,是库什内这番讲话的主要背景,也是冷战后人权成为西方主要的外交工具和意识形态二十年的总结,特别是对于一向以“人权活动家”著称而又担任法国外交部长的他,不乏亲身体会。库什内的这番讲话发表在法国总统萨科齐在波兰会见达赖四天之后,中法再度交恶、法国利益严重受损的背景之下,显然也是有感而发。

难以为继需改弦易辙

实事求是地讲,人权作为人类进步逐渐积累的文明成果之一,是有其漫长的发展过程。而且与每一个国家的经济发展水平、历史文化、民族特性、传统价值息息相关。比如,强调个人主义的西方与强调集体主义的东方在人权的认知上肯定会存有众多的差异,这也不妨称为文化的相对性。

放眼当今世界,人权状态的国别差异和人权的普遍标准都处在变化和不断演变当中。尽管自从1948年联合国发表《世界人权宣言》以来,有关人权的普世价值,在国际社会已经没有太多原则上的分歧。但对“人权外交”的具体内容和形式却一直存在巨大的争议,更没有一个放之四海而皆准的实现人权的方案和模式。西方如果把自己的人权观念强加给全世界,带来的不仅仅是世界人权状况的倒退,还有对本国利益的损害。至于某些国家以人权为手段侵害其他国家主权,进而巩固自身霸权的行径就更不得人心了。

当然,就在法国外交部长库什内发表这通“感言”的同时,欧盟另一大支柱德国依然在强调其“价值外交”,声称“不能因政治利益而做出让步”。但无论如何,西方心中已经明白以自己的人权标准、干涉他国主权事务、行谋取国家私利的“人权外交”、“人权政治化”已经到了难以为继需要改弦易辙的时候了。(宋鲁郑 旅法媒体人)

新闻链接

法国外交部长称外交不能只考虑“人权”

新华网巴黎12月10日电(记者 严明)法国外交部长库什内在法国《巴黎人报》10日发表的一篇专访中表示,一个国家决定其外交政策时不能仅仅从“人权”考虑出发,治国不能过于“理想化”。

库什内说,他认为自己去年出任外长时向总统萨科齐建议设立人权国务秘书一职是“一个错误”,因为一国外交政策和推广“人权”之间有着长期矛盾。

此外,库什内还对当今世界上人权状况退步表示遗憾。他同时承认说,虽然人权宣言原则是“普世”的,但其推广过程中带有较多“西方色彩”,有人对其“傲慢方式”与“双重标准”的批评“有一部分是事实”。 >>>点击详细
 

tun_dr_m

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://observers.france24.com/en/co...ance-defends-human-rights-does-anybody-listen

11/12/2008 / WORLD
When France talks human rights, does anybody listen ?

* France
* human rights

RAMA_teaser.jpg

Bernard Kouchner, France's foreign minister, has publicly questioned the role of his country's state secretary for human rights, Rama Yade, dealing a harsh blow to the junior minister. His statement sparked, made on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, sparked immediate controversy. A chance to ask our Observers, from Iran to China, if they believe France can still claim to be a reference for human rights throughout the world.

In an interview with French daily Le Parisien, Kouchner explained that "a nation's foreign policy is constantly in contradiction with the principles of human rights," adding that he thought the creation of a junior branch of his ministry specifically dedicated to human rights was "a mistake." He went on to say that "concrete action is what counts" and claimed that, at least, he "got things done."

We asked human rights activists and specialists around the world to comment on France's stance on the subject and its diplomatic activity during the past 15 years.
Contributors
Marie Holzman's picture

Marie Holzman
Reza Moini's picture

Reza Moini
Kio's picture

Kio
Jean-François Julliard's picture

Jean-Françoi...
“I think that France itself no longer believes in its values”

CHINA

Marie Holzman is a sinologist and human rights activists specialised in China. She teaches at the University Paris-VII and is president of the association Solidarité Chine (China Solidarity)

If France really wanted to influence China on human rights issues it could. This is the realm of values, of ideas. China has no qualms in expressing its views, for example when it opposed President Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama. We have to have firmly express our values, as well.

The problem is that I'm under the impression that France itself doesn't believe in its values. President Sarkozy's position concerning the situation in China flip-flopped so much over the past year that it failed to send Chinese leaders a strong message. That's extremely harmful for human rights. Bernard Kouchner's statement [on Rama Yade] was merely the last straw: to say, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that the state secretariat for human rights is "a mistake" is sheer provocation.

France's focus has shifted more on more on economic issues, with emphasis on free trade. In fact, the very mechanisms of free trade make us, French consumers, accomplices in the brutal exploitation of poor Chinese workers. They are exploited in the factories that produce masses of cheap toys and Christmas decorations that only Westerners will buy. The Chinese economy relies so much on exports that western boycotts of Chinese products would put huge pressure on the government to improve human rights. More and more groups realise it and are working in that direction."
Marie Holzman's picture

Marie Holzman

* France
* Human rights activist

“Iranian intellectuals refer to France when they’re discussing human rights”

IRAN

Reza Moïni is an Iranian living in Paris. He is in charge of the human rights information website Bidaran.net
In Iran, France is still seen as the birthplace of human rights. Our first constitution, in 1906, was a mix of the French and Belgian constitutions. Even today, Iranian law resembles French law in many ways, and Iranian intellectuals refer to France when discussing human rights. Not long ago, I heard one prominent intellectual quote Albert Camus on the death penalty.

France has always tried to be an influence in the realm of human rights. I remember, for example, that former President Jacques Chirac had officially asked for the liberation of detained journalist Akbar Ganji, and it worked. Sarkozy so far hasn't spoken up on human rights; he focuses on nuclear enrichment. And Rama Yade's presence is discreet. She once expressed satisfaction when a human rights militant was liberated by the regime, which I appreciated, but she has never said anything, to my knowledge, about women's rights in Iran."


Reza Moini's picture

Reza Moini

* France
* Human rights defender

“France’s only activity in Rangoon is to make things easy for the oil-producer Total and organise French lessons”

BURMA

Kio is a Burmese exile in Thailand, where he campaigns for democracy and human rights.
I don't even know the French foreign minister's name, for a simple reason: France, to my knowledge, has done nothing to improve the condition of the Burmese people. The French embassy's only activity in Rangoon is to make things easy for the oil-producer Total and to organize French lessons. When we meet with French diplomats, they make it clear that Total is an off-limits subject and that if we want them to support us, we shouldn't bring it up. However, Total has participated, albeit indirectly, in human rights violations. I visited sites where Total was building pipelines from 1996 to 1997. Soldiers there were using villagers to clear the area of landmines! That was a while back, but it's still true today that France does its best to keep good relations with the ruling junta to protect Total's interests. Other European countries, like Italy or the UK, are much more active in their promotion of human rights."
Kio's picture

Kio

* Thailand
* Human rights defender.

“Rama Yade has been efficient when we worked together or concrete problems”

FRANCE

Jean-François Julliard is secretary general of the Paris-based NGO Reporters without Borders.

It's clear that when we speak to human rights militants abroad, France is no longer perceived as a reference. Many people heard of Muammar Gaddafi's official visit to France at the same time as International Human Rights day, or of Bashar al-Assad's invitation for Bastille Day. Some also pinpoint the deplorable state of French prisons. All this has tarnished the country's image.

Rama Yade has been efficient when we worked together on concrete issues: for example, to obtain a visa for someone or issue a message. She's very open to collaboration with NGOs. We have met with her three or four times since she came into office. On the other hand, she has virtually no influence over major foreign policy lines. France's relations with Libya, with China... All that goes on over her head. We were especially disappointed when she accompanied Nicolas Sarkozy to Tunisia. The president declared that human rights in Tunisia had vastly improved. Not only did she not protest, but she met with only one representative of Tunisian human rights groups, very briefly in a hotel hall."


Jean-François Julliard's picture

Jean-Françoi...

* France
* Secretary general of Reporters sans frontières

Image postée sur Flickr par emhd0747
 

tun_dr_m

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://localnewsleader.com/jackson/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=53574

French minister: human rights ministry a bad idea
Staff and agencies
10 December, 2008


French minister: human rights ministry a bad idea - Yahoo! News document.body.className = ‘js-enabled‘; Skip to navigation » Skip to content » U.S. Australia/Antarctica French minister: human rights ministry a bad idea Buzz Up IM del.icio.us Yahoo! Bookmarks By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Writer – 24 mins ago AP – French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner speaks during a media conference after a meeting of EU foreign …

Kouchner, a Socialist who is now President Nicolas Sarkozy‘s foreign minister, said Wednesday that there is an inherent contradiction between the fight for human rights and a state‘s foreign policy — "even in France."

He said working for human rights was "too ambiguous" a goal for a government to handle, and that it was an "error" to have asked Sarkozy to create the human rights portfolio — one of the few of its kind anywhere.

In an interview released Wednesday, France‘s Junior Minister for Human Rights, Rama Yade, insisted that "human rights form part of France‘s identity."

Still, Kouchner‘s comments raised questions in France about the future of France‘s human rights minister post — and Yade. Yade, who was born in Senegal, has campaigned against violence against women, the practice of using children soldiers in some countries, and against discrimination against gays.

She met in August with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. France‘s relations with China have soured after Sarkozy himself met with the Dalai Lama in Poland over the weekend.

Kouchner sought later Wednesday to tamp down the controversy over his comments, telling reporters after a Cabinet meeting, "I was only stating my opinion, and especially my favorable opinion of Rama Yade‘s action."
 
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