Australia says may quit U.N. racism conference

[oberliner]

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia threatened on Thursday to withdraw from a U.N. conference on racism next month unless the wording of a document it considers hostile to Israel is dropped or substantially altered.

Israel and Canada have already withdrawn from the April 20-24 World Conference Against Racism in Geneva amid fears Arab nations will use it to criticise Israel.

The United States has also said it will not attend the conference unless the wording of the final declaration is altered radically. Israel is calling for a boycott of the event.

"If we form the view that the text is going to lead to nothing more than an anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic harangue, an anti-Jewish propaganda exercise, Australia will not be in attendance," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told parliament.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-38468520090312

[wtmusic]

1. The "hostile" text:

"World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Declaration

<>

63. We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion;

<>

151. As for the situation in the Middle East, calls for the end of violence and the swift resumption of negotiations, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, respect for the principle of self-determination and the end of all suffering, thus allowing Israel and the Palestinians to resume the peace process, and to develop and prosper in security and freedom;"

www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf

:shrug:

[oberliner]

2. That's the 2001 document, not the current one

The current document can be found here:

http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/

[wtmusic]

3. thanks.

Here, apparently, is the offensive text

Expresses deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories as well as displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return.<5>

… that a most disturbing phenomenon is the intellectual and ideological validation of Islamophobia. … hen it is expressed in the form of defamation of religions, it takes cover behind the freedom of expression … ssociation of terrorism and violence with Islam or any other religion, including through publication of offensive caricatures and making of hate documentaries, would purposely complicate our common endeavours to address several contemporary issues, including the fight against terrorism and the occupation of foreign territories and peoples.<6>

http://www.heritage.org/research/internationalorganizations/wm2326.cfm

[cali]

4. the second paragraph is complete and utter bullshit of the rankest kind.

not to mention hideously hypocritical.

[wtmusic]

5. agreed. nt

[Shaktimaan]

6. Well, that is pretty offensive.

When they talk about refugees who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies what do you want to bet they aren't including anyone who happens to be Jewish? Or Palestinians either, come to think of it, unless the offending country happens to be Israel of course... I have a funny feeling that states like Kuwait and Iraq weren't intended as targets of any of this criticism.

But the benchmark for hypocrisy seems to be pretty high here, if the second paragraph is to be any indication.

Good for Australia. Hopefully this conference won't have any more credibility than the UNHRC when everything's all said and done. The thing hasn't even started yet and they're already cheerfully exhuming the old Zionism = racism chestnut.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. Racism conference needs Australia

AM - Thursday, 12 March , 2009 08:21:00
Reporter: Tony Eastley

TONY EASTLEY: The Federal Government will soon have to make up its mind on whether to attend a controversial United Nations conference on racism next month. Already the US, Israel, Canada and Italy have announced they will boycott the forum in Geneva.

The first conference, held in Durban in 2001, ended up with the US and Israel walking out, upset over the behaviour and anti-Semitic statements of some delegates. While the final declaration at the Durban conference condemned anti-Semitism, it wasn't enough to calm the waters, then and now.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay spoke to me from Geneva this morning. I asked what she thought about the calls for a boycott of the Geneva conference.

NAVI PILLAY: The original conference was marred by abusive or hurtful remarks against Israel, but in a small section of the NGO parallel forum. But it seems that those who have been hurt have continued this kind of fear that there will be a repetition of the anti-Semitic behaviour.

Now I can assure all Australians this is not a repetition of the Durban conference and we need Australia's voice here.

TONY EASTLEY: In blunt terms, what's in it for Australia to attend this conference?

NAVI PILLAY: What's in this is for pick up the best practices of other countries and to share your own best practices. And if you look at the paragraph of DDPA (Durban Declaration and Programme of Action) it spells out many ways in which one can deal with issues such as racism and racial discrimination and other intolerance, prejudices and practices such as xenophobia.

And Australia has an interest in addressing that issue just like any other country.

TONY EASTLEY: But does it need a big conference in Durban for Australia to address racism and other similar problems at home?

NAVI PILLAY: This is an international review conference in Geneva, by the way, and it's not just dealing with local issues. Assuming here we take the issue of minorities or Indigenous populations. They are spread all over the world and you want to a) understand how other states have dealt with these issues; and also make suggestions and recommendations.

TONY EASTLEY: And one of our Opposition MPs has called it a 'hate-fest', a term which seems to have caught on amongst those people who want to boycott the conference. What would you say about that sort of description as regards to this conference in Geneva?

NAVI PILLAY: I'm very unhappy about that description...

TONY EASTLEY: How did it catch on so quickly?

NAVI PILLAY: It's not quickly. I think that from the last conference there's been a sustained campaign and propaganda against the world conference I think because of the hurtful conduct against Israel...

TONY EASTLEY: Who's pushing the campaign?

NAVI PILLAY: Who is?

TONY EASTLEY: Yes, who is pushing this campaign, this rhetoric if you like?

NAVI PILLAY: Well I don't know. I just read very many articles and letters including the Australian media carried one, and they all carry the same terminology, 'hate-fest'. They carry the same misrepresentation such as saying that Libya, Cuba and Iran are the vice-chairs, whereas there are 19 vice-chairs and a committee of 20 member states.

So I can't tell you exactly who the lobby is; I can just pick out that it seems to be one source putting out this wrong information and labelling this review conference as 'hate-fest'.

TONY EASTLEY: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay speaking there on the line from Geneva.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2513815.htm