This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8006548.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US boycotts UN racism conference | US boycotts UN racism conference |
| (2 days later) | |
| Washington has confirmed it will boycott a UN forum on racism in Geneva next week because of differences over Israel and the right to free speech. | Washington has confirmed it will boycott a UN forum on racism in Geneva next week because of differences over Israel and the right to free speech. |
| The state department said the proposed text of the conference's guiding document remained unacceptable despite having been amended significantly. | The state department said the proposed text of the conference's guiding document remained unacceptable despite having been amended significantly. |
| The US and Israel quit a similar forum in Durban in 2001 when its draft document likened Zionism to racism. | The US and Israel quit a similar forum in Durban in 2001 when its draft document likened Zionism to racism. |
| Current language about "incitement to religious hatred" also alarms the US. | Current language about "incitement to religious hatred" also alarms the US. |
| The five-day Durban Review Conference is due to open on Monday. | The five-day Durban Review Conference is due to open on Monday. |
| EU diplomats were still consulting on Saturday on whether to attend the conference. Canada and Israel said earlier that they would not attend. | EU diplomats were still consulting on Saturday on whether to attend the conference. Canada and Israel said earlier that they would not attend. |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has stirred outrage by previously calling the Holocaust of the Jews a "myth", is the only prominent head of state so far scheduled to attend. | |
| 'Serious concerns' | 'Serious concerns' |
| The state department said it was "with regret" that the US had decided to boycott the conference. | The state department said it was "with regret" that the US had decided to boycott the conference. |
| "The text still contains language that reaffirms in toto the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action [DDPA] from 2001, which the United States has long said it is unable to support," it said in a statement. | "The text still contains language that reaffirms in toto the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action [DDPA] from 2001, which the United States has long said it is unable to support," it said in a statement. |
| "Its inclusion in the review conference document has the same effect as inserting that original text into the current document and re-adopting it. | "Its inclusion in the review conference document has the same effect as inserting that original text into the current document and re-adopting it. |
| "The DDPA singles out one particular conflict and prejudges key issues that can only be resolved in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. | "The DDPA singles out one particular conflict and prejudges key issues that can only be resolved in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. |
| "The United States also has serious concerns with relatively new additions to the text regarding 'incitement', that run counter to the US commitment to unfettered free speech." | "The United States also has serious concerns with relatively new additions to the text regarding 'incitement', that run counter to the US commitment to unfettered free speech." |
| Internal debate has raged in the US for weeks on whether to attend, the Associated Press news agency reports from Washington. | Internal debate has raged in the US for weeks on whether to attend, the Associated Press news agency reports from Washington. |
| Pro-Israel groups vehemently opposed participation while human rights advocates and organisations like TransAfrica and members of the Congressional Black Caucus thought it was important to attend. | Pro-Israel groups vehemently opposed participation while human rights advocates and organisations like TransAfrica and members of the Congressional Black Caucus thought it was important to attend. |
| Immediately after the announcement, Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who heads the black caucus in Congress, said the group was "deeply dismayed" by the boycott. | Immediately after the announcement, Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who heads the black caucus in Congress, said the group was "deeply dismayed" by the boycott. |
| "This decision is inconsistent with the administration's policy of engaging with those we agree with and those we disagree with..." she said. | "This decision is inconsistent with the administration's policy of engaging with those we agree with and those we disagree with..." she said. |
| "The US is making it more difficult for it to play a leadership role on UN Human Rights Council as it states it plans to do. This is a missed opportunity, plain and simple." | "The US is making it more difficult for it to play a leadership role on UN Human Rights Council as it states it plans to do. This is a missed opportunity, plain and simple." |