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Kerry, Russia’s Lavrov meet in Geneva Kerry defends Israel against U.N. ‘bias’ amid strains over Iran nuclear talks
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — Secretary of State John F. Kerry met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday in Switzerland to discuss a range of issues, primarily the status of the Iran nuclear talks, the war in Ukraine and the murder of a prominent political opponent in Moscow. GENEVA — Secretary of State John F. Kerry came to Israel’s defense Monday amid growing political tensions between the allies, saying that anti-Israeli bias by the United Nations’ top right panel is undermining its mission.
Kerry’s statements contrast with the Obama administration’s deepening divide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who plans address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday and criticize talks U.S. efforts to reach a deal with Iran seeking to control Tehran’s nuclear program.
But the White House also remains one of Israel’s main backers on the world stage – a relationship that some of Netanyahu’s critics fear could be eroded by his visit to Washington to attack U.S. policies on the Iran negotiations.
“No one in this room can deny the bias against Israel in the U.N. Human Rights Council,” said Kerry, addressing a meeting of the U.N. organization shortly before he was scheduled to join envoys from five other world powers to resume nuclear talks with Iran.
Every year, five or six U.N. resolutions critical of Israel are introduced, Kerry said, singling out for special ridicule one by Syria regarding Israel’s presence in the Golan even as Syrian refugees were fleeing fighting to seek medical treatment in Israel.
Such resolutions, he said, are self-imposed roadblocks to progress by the U.N.’s highest body dedicated solely to human rights.
“It must be said: the HRC’s obsession with Israel actually risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization,” Kerry added. “It has the potential to limit the good we can accomplish.”
Kerry promised that the United States would work to defeat anti-Israel resolutions it considers “arbitrary.”
“The United States will oppose arbitrary efforts to delegitimize Israel,” he said. “Not just in the U.N. Human Rights Council, but wherever it occurs.”
Kerry’s vigorous defense of Israel came just hours before Netanyahu was scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the American Israeli Political Action Committee, a major lobbying group.
Netanyahu will argue against Congressional approval of a possible deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Netanyahu considers any deal that does not deny Iran virtually all nuclear capacity is a bad deal.
The West and its allies fear Iran’s uranium enrichment labs could eventually produce warhead-grade material. Iran claims it only seeks to make nuclear fuel for reactors for energy and medical applications.
Earlier Monday, Kerry met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday in Switzerland to discuss a range of issues, primarily the status of the Iran nuclear talks, the war in Ukraine and the murder of a prominent political opponent in Moscow.
Kerry and Lavrov met at a luxury hotel under heavy security, as police boats patrolled Lake Geneva just across the street.Kerry and Lavrov met at a luxury hotel under heavy security, as police boats patrolled Lake Geneva just across the street.
Last week, Kerry accused officials in Moscow of lying “to my face” about the conflict raging in Ukraine between Russian-backed rebels and government troops. There was no warmth in the room when the two diplomats first met and shook hands. Neither smiled as they greeted each other, though Lavrov smiled briefly after the cameras were turned off.Last week, Kerry accused officials in Moscow of lying “to my face” about the conflict raging in Ukraine between Russian-backed rebels and government troops. There was no warmth in the room when the two diplomats first met and shook hands. Neither smiled as they greeted each other, though Lavrov smiled briefly after the cameras were turned off.
Kerry planned to tell Lavrov that the United States expected an investigation into the fatal shooting Friday of Boris Nemtsov to determine not only who pulled the trigger but who may have ordered the assassination of the opponent leader and vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.Kerry planned to tell Lavrov that the United States expected an investigation into the fatal shooting Friday of Boris Nemtsov to determine not only who pulled the trigger but who may have ordered the assassination of the opponent leader and vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov on Monday called the killing a “heinous crime which will be fully investigated,” according to the Associated Press. He told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that Putin is “ensuring special control over this investigation.”Lavrov on Monday called the killing a “heinous crime which will be fully investigated,” according to the Associated Press. He told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that Putin is “ensuring special control over this investigation.”
At the same time, however, Lavrov criticized any outside interference in the murder probe, saying that any “attempt to use the heinous killing of Boris Nemtsov for political purposes is despicable.”At the same time, however, Lavrov criticized any outside interference in the murder probe, saying that any “attempt to use the heinous killing of Boris Nemtsov for political purposes is despicable.”
The United States insists the murder investigation “must pass muster in the eyes of both the Russian people and internationally,” according to a senior State Department official traveling with Kerry, speaking on condition of anonymity under briefing rules.The United States insists the murder investigation “must pass muster in the eyes of both the Russian people and internationally,” according to a senior State Department official traveling with Kerry, speaking on condition of anonymity under briefing rules.
The Kerry-Lavrov meeting in Geneva came just as the United Nations human rights office issued a report saying that more than 6,000 people have died in eastern Ukraine since the start of the conflict almost a year ago, leading to a “merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure.” The meeting in Geneva came just as the United Nations human rights office issued a report saying that more than 6,000 people have died in eastern Ukraine since the start of the conflict almost a year ago, leading to a “merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure.”
While Russia denies its troops are fighting in Ukraine to aid pro-Moscow separatists, the U.N. cited “credible reports (that) indicate a continuing flow of heavy weaponry and foreign fighters” from Russia.While Russia denies its troops are fighting in Ukraine to aid pro-Moscow separatists, the U.N. cited “credible reports (that) indicate a continuing flow of heavy weaponry and foreign fighters” from Russia.
The Russian help has “sustained and enhanced the capacity of armed groups of the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ to resist Government armed forces and to launch new offensives,” the report, issued Monday, said.
Hundreds of civilians and military personnel have been killed in recent weeks alone, after an upswing in fighting near Donetsk airport and in the Debaltseve area, the Geneva-based body said in the report that covered the period from December to February. Pro-Russian separatists captured the key railroad town of Debaltseve from Ukrainian government forces last month.
Kerry’s meeting with Lavrov is the first stop in a week that takes him away from Washington when Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is there to deliver a speech to Congress criticizing a potential deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
The Israeli government favors an agreement in which Iran’s nuclear capacity is virtually dismantled. The United States and five other world powers, including Russia, are discussing ways to limit and monitor Iran’s use of nuclear technology, however, so it is used only for peaceful purposes like energy production and medical testing.
Later in the day, Kerry also is scheduled to speak at the United Nations Human Rights Council, a forum that is often critical of Israeli actions relating to Palestinians. Officials in Kerry’s party said his speech would showcase U.S. efforts to defend and protect Israel before international organizations. Kerry has attempted to calm tensions with Israel arising from the two governments' differing views on how to deal with Iran, and personality clashes between Netanyahu and President Obama.
Undeterred by Netanyahu’s attempt to halt what the prime minister considers a bad deal in the making, Kerry will go overland Monday afternoon to the city of Montreaux for the first of two and a half days of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
In Geneva, Zarif told Reuters Television that Iran would try to “go as far as we can” in the latest talks.
Negotiators are pressing to agree on the broad framework for an accord by the end of March, and a comprehensive pact by the end of June.
Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.