MOSCOW CHIDES NOSY OTTAWA

MOSCOW — Russia voiced support for Saudi Arabia in its worsening row with Canada on Wednesday, telling Ottawa it was unacceptable to lecture the kingdom on human rights.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said human rights should be promoted with respect for specific national customs and traditions. “We have always said that the politicisation of human rights matters is unacceptable,” Zakharova said. “What one probably needs in this situation is constructive advice and assistance rather than criticism from a ‘moral superior’,” she said. —

CAIRO / MOSCOW — Russia and Egypt extended their support to Saudi Arabia in a political row with Canada, with Egypt saying it stood in “solidarity” with the Gulf Arab kingdom against foreign interference in its domestic affairs.

Cairo’s foreign ministry said on its Facebook page that it was “concerned by the crisis between Saudi Arabia and Canada, which is a result of the negative tendency by some international ... sides of meddling in the internal affairs of countries in the region”, without elaborating.

Russia, meanwhile, on Wednesday also voiced its support for Riyadh, telling Ottawa it was unacceptable to lecture the kingdom on human rights. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that human rights should be promoted with respect for specific national customs and traditions.

“We have always said that the politicisation of human rights matters is unacceptable,” Zakharova said.

“What one probably needs in this situation is constructive advice and assistance rather than criticism from a ‘moral superior’,” she said.

We are concerned by the crisis between Saudi Arabia and Canada, which is a result of the negative tendency by some international ... sides of meddling in the internal affairs of countries in the region Egypt foreign ministry