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| Boycott-hit racism forum begins | Boycott-hit racism forum begins |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A controversial UN conference on racism has begun in Geneva, amid concern it could become an anti-Semitic forum. | A controversial UN conference on racism has begun in Geneva, amid concern it could become an anti-Semitic forum. |
| Several countries - including the US, Australia and Germany - are boycotting it but France and the UK are attending. | Several countries - including the US, Australia and Germany - are boycotting it but France and the UK are attending. |
| Iran's president, who has denied the Holocaust, is to address the meeting, a follow-up to a 2001 UN forum in Durban that ended in acrimony. | Iran's president, who has denied the Holocaust, is to address the meeting, a follow-up to a 2001 UN forum in Durban that ended in acrimony. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the opening session he was "profoundly disappointed" at the boycotts. | |
| He said the time to fight racism around the world was now. He also warned that racism could rise as a result of the global economic crisis. | |
| The UN's first conference on racism in the South African city of Durban eight years ago was marred by anti-Semitic comments from some non-governmental organisations. | The UN's first conference on racism in the South African city of Durban eight years ago was marred by anti-Semitic comments from some non-governmental organisations. |
| There was also an unsuccessful attempt by some states to equate Zionism with racism. | There was also an unsuccessful attempt by some states to equate Zionism with racism. |
| Iran wildcard | Iran wildcard |
| Now, many Western countries are uncomfortable with the address by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to accept an invitation to the forum. | Now, many Western countries are uncomfortable with the address by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to accept an invitation to the forum. |
| President Obama on why his administration is boycotting the event in Geneva | President Obama on why his administration is boycotting the event in Geneva |
| His presence at a conference against racism has caused horror in Israel, and nervousness within the United Nations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. | His presence at a conference against racism has caused horror in Israel, and nervousness within the United Nations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. |
| If Mr Ahmadinejad uses the conference to repeat attacks on Israel, or even to deny the Holocaust, it will be a disaster for an event the UN had hoped would be a shining example of international unity against discrimination, our correspondent says. | If Mr Ahmadinejad uses the conference to repeat attacks on Israel, or even to deny the Holocaust, it will be a disaster for an event the UN had hoped would be a shining example of international unity against discrimination, our correspondent says. |
| The five-day Durban Review Conference in Geneva - or Durban II - is the UN's first global racism conference in eight years. | |
| The Pope has also spoken out in favour of the conference, saying it was an opportunity to fight discrimination and intolerance. | The Pope has also spoken out in favour of the conference, saying it was an opportunity to fight discrimination and intolerance. |
| "We ask for firm and consistent action, at national and international level, to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance," he said. | "We ask for firm and consistent action, at national and international level, to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance," he said. |
| Watered down | Watered down |
| The draft final declaration, which has been causing much heated debate, has been watered down to remove all references to Israel and the Middle East. | The draft final declaration, which has been causing much heated debate, has been watered down to remove all references to Israel and the Middle East. |
| However, at the request of Middle East nations, it still contains a clause about the incitement of religious hatred, which many Western countries see as a curtailment of free speech. | However, at the request of Middle East nations, it still contains a clause about the incitement of religious hatred, which many Western countries see as a curtailment of free speech. |
| US President Barack Obama said anti-Israeli language in the draft final communique that was "oftentimes completely hypocritical and counterproductive" had been the red line for his administration. | US President Barack Obama said anti-Israeli language in the draft final communique that was "oftentimes completely hypocritical and counterproductive" had been the red line for his administration. |
| We ask for action to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance Pope Benedict XVI | We ask for action to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance Pope Benedict XVI |
| EU states are split on whether to follow the US boycott. Germany has become the latest country to announce it would not be attending, joining others including Canada, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand. | EU states are split on whether to follow the US boycott. Germany has become the latest country to announce it would not be attending, joining others including Canada, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand. |
| France, on the other hand, is attending, a source close to President Nicolas Sarkozy's office told AFP news agency. And the UK said it would send a delegation, but without a high-level official. | France, on the other hand, is attending, a source close to President Nicolas Sarkozy's office told AFP news agency. And the UK said it would send a delegation, but without a high-level official. |
| What can this conference achieve? Are the US, Germany and Israel right to boycott it? Send us your views using the form below. | What can this conference achieve? Are the US, Germany and Israel right to boycott it? Send us your views using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |