The new French ambassador to Washington will be able to take up his duties after obtaining his approval from the American authorities on Tuesday, a State Department official said on Tuesday, September 15, putting an end to several weeks of blockage.
Aurélien Lechevallier’s taking up post in the United States had been hampered since the end of July due to a diplomatic quarrel between the two countries. His arrival in Washington is now expected in the coming weeks.
The dispute began on July 24 when France’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva posted a message on X claiming that “the United States was once a model for human rights. This is no longer the case.”
The approval procedure was blocked by Washington
Washington then quickly left a meeting of the UN Security Council on July 27, to denounce France’s “hypocritical” comments, then blocked the approval procedure for Aurélien Lechevallier, current chief of staff of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
After discussions to resolve this dispute, France’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva published a statement on Friday, in English only, stressing that the difference between the two countries “related to a single vote and did not concern the defense of human rights.” A State Department official then said he “appreciated” the gesture, paving the way for obtaining approval.
To exercise his functions, an ambassador appointed by his country must receive approval from the host country, usually a simple formality in the case of a French ambassador to the United States, an allied country. Laurent Bili, the departing ambassador to Washington, must remain in post until the arrival of Aurélien Lechevallier.
With AFP
