Every year the US State Department publishes its human rights report. The report analyzes the human rights situation in almost every country in the world. This year, the report has caused increasing irritation in a number of influential countries.
Responding to U.S. complaints, China charged that the Bush administration has no standing to criticize other countries on human rights because its own record is full of blemishes at home and abroad. "As in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights conditions in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but avoided touching on the human rights situation in the United States," the government said in a report issued by Premier Wen Jiabao's office. "We urge the U.S. government to acknowledge its own human rights problems and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
Similarly, Moscow criticized the US State Department's annual report on global human rights, saying its assessment of the situation in Russia was skewed, confrontational and aimed at furthering US political interests. In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow complained that "Washington has long practiced double standards in the sphere of human rights, depending on whether one state or another acts in accordance with (US) political interests...These standards are particularly clearly visible against the background of what is happening now in Iraq, Afghanistan and at the military base in Guantanamo with the participation of the US armed forces."
Even Egypt was offended by the report, reacting angrily to criticism of its human rights record. Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul-Gheit accused the US of interfering in its affairs. While the report isn't intended to make allies happy, it certainly doesn't seem to be garnering a whole lot of goodwill.
Responding to U.S. complaints, China charged that the Bush administration has no standing to criticize other countries on human rights because its own record is full of blemishes at home and abroad. "As in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights conditions in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but avoided touching on the human rights situation in the United States," the government said in a report issued by Premier Wen Jiabao's office. "We urge the U.S. government to acknowledge its own human rights problems and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
Similarly, Moscow criticized the US State Department's annual report on global human rights, saying its assessment of the situation in Russia was skewed, confrontational and aimed at furthering US political interests. In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow complained that "Washington has long practiced double standards in the sphere of human rights, depending on whether one state or another acts in accordance with (US) political interests...These standards are particularly clearly visible against the background of what is happening now in Iraq, Afghanistan and at the military base in Guantanamo with the participation of the US armed forces."
Even Egypt was offended by the report, reacting angrily to criticism of its human rights record. Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul-Gheit accused the US of interfering in its affairs. While the report isn't intended to make allies happy, it certainly doesn't seem to be garnering a whole lot of goodwill.
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