22/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - ALDE critical of election of Saudi ambassador as chairman of UN human rights group. The ALDE Group in the European Parliament has said it “strongly disagrees” with the decision taken by the United Nations to elect the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, chair of a panel of independent experts on the UN Human Rights Council when, ALDE says, “his country is among the worst in the world when it comes to freedoms”. Deputy group leader Petras Austrevicius says that the choice “is appalling and should be condemned”. Marietje Schaake described the decision as a “disgrace”, saying it “undermines the effectiveness and the credibility of the Council, and of the UN as a whole”. “The EU should have prevented this from happening, and must at least make sure Saudi Arabia does not use its position to legitimise violations”, she added. (CG)
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