Saying that no one should intervene in the internal affairs of a country is the old Soviet argument.

The rest – as I think everyone understands – is not democratic; it is blatant intervention in the internal affairs of a country.

I hear it said that France is accused of meddling in the internal affairs of a country like the Central African Republic.

The example of Austria is harmful because you are painting a picture of a European Union which interferes in the internal affairs of a country.

Any intervention by us could therefore be interpreted as the European Union interfering in the internal affairs of a country that is in a rather delicate situation.

"This poll and the Ambassador's comments are unacceptable interference by a foreign diplomat in the internal affairs of a country," Ecuador's Foreign Ministry declared.

So how can we be Pontius Pilate in one case, while in the other we jump in with both feet, as it were, into the internal affairs of a country?

And I am also strongly of the view that, on such issues as the human rights issue, discussion can be held on the basis of noninterference in the internal affairs of a country.

People and their basic rights are therefore removed by means of a treaty from the powers of disposal of the other party to the treaty, despite the fact that we have always taken the view that insisting on human rights does not represent interference in the internal affairs of a country.

However, we are on the eve of the elections due to be held there and the resolution contains accusations which I personally have not yet cross-checked, however hard I have tried to obtain information on the matter. I believe the resolution goes too far; it may even be seen as interference in the internal affairs of a country.