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Fault lines split UN racism summit Fault lines split UN racism summit
(about 1 hour later)
By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News websiteBy Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
A UN review conference on progress to counter racism and "related intolerance" looks like descending into a battle about Israel and the Palestinians, just as the original one did in 2001.A UN review conference on progress to counter racism and "related intolerance" looks like descending into a battle about Israel and the Palestinians, just as the original one did in 2001.
Some fear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will fan the flames of the rowSome fear Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will fan the flames of the row
The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to speak on Monday and France, for one, is threatening to walk out if he attacks Israel.The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to speak on Monday and France, for one, is threatening to walk out if he attacks Israel.
Israel has meanwhile recalled its ambassador to Switzerland after the Swiss president met the Iranian leader.Israel has meanwhile recalled its ambassador to Switzerland after the Swiss president met the Iranian leader.
The world has taken huge strides against racism over the last two centuries - slavery has been abolished, Nazi German racial theories have been vanquished, apartheid has gone.The world has taken huge strides against racism over the last two centuries - slavery has been abolished, Nazi German racial theories have been vanquished, apartheid has gone.
It is easily forgotten how prevalent the concept of humankind being divided into "races" was until recently. When I was at school we were routinely taught about the history of the British and other "races".It is easily forgotten how prevalent the concept of humankind being divided into "races" was until recently. When I was at school we were routinely taught about the history of the British and other "races".
RACISM CONFERENCE UN conference on racism - draft outcome [90.6 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereRACISM CONFERENCE UN conference on racism - draft outcome [90.6 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
But the one issue that never seems to go away when conferences of this kind are held is the Israeli/Palestinian one.But the one issue that never seems to go away when conferences of this kind are held is the Israeli/Palestinian one.
A document has been already been agreed among those governments attending and you have to read it quite closely to detect the tremors remaining from the earthquakes in discussions that went before. A document has already been agreed among those governments attending and you have to read it quite closely to detect the tremors remaining from the earthquakes in discussions that went before.
BoycottBoycott
But enough contentious issues remain and the result is a boycott by the United States, Israel, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, though Germany is sending an observer. Britain and France and the Czech Republic are attending but are represented only by their ambassadors to the UN institutions in Geneva, where the meeting is being held. But enough contentious issues remain and the result is a boycott by the United States, Israel, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, though Germany is sending an observer.
Britain and France and the Czech Republic are attending but are represented only by their ambassadors to the UN institutions in Geneva, where the meeting is being held.
There is now no mention of Israel and the Palestinians in the new document. But the US sees the reaffirmation of the 2001 declaration as the next worse thing Boycott-hit UN racism forum begins There is now no mention of Israel and the Palestinians in the new document. But the US sees the reaffirmation of the 2001 declaration as the next worse thing Boycott-hit UN racism forum begins
It is noticeable that the European Union has failed to reach a common position.It is noticeable that the European Union has failed to reach a common position.
And this year, the review conference is also divided over how to protect religious freedom, with fierce arguments about language interpreted by some as being an attempt by Islamic countries to shield Islam from criticism.And this year, the review conference is also divided over how to protect religious freedom, with fierce arguments about language interpreted by some as being an attempt by Islamic countries to shield Islam from criticism.
IssuesIssues
So what are the issues that have divided opinion?So what are the issues that have divided opinion?
The first - and most important for the US - is an innocuous sounding introduction that "reaffirms" the declaration made at the last conference in Durban in 2001.The first - and most important for the US - is an innocuous sounding introduction that "reaffirms" the declaration made at the last conference in Durban in 2001.
The question of Islam has also been a major one for the summitThe question of Islam has also been a major one for the summit
The problem here is that the Durban declaration said: "We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation." In 2001, the US, Israel and their supporters strongly objected to what they regarded as the singling out of Israel, the only country mentioned in the declaration, even though there was other language that respected the "rights to security for all states in the region, including Israel." The problem here is that the Durban declaration said: "We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation".
In 2001, the US, Israel and their supporters strongly objected to what they regarded as the singling out of Israel, the only country mentioned in the declaration, even though there was other language that respected the "rights to security for all states in the region, including Israel".
There is now no mention of Israel and the Palestinians in the new document. But the US sees the reaffirmation of the 2001 declaration as the next worse thing.There is now no mention of Israel and the Palestinians in the new document. But the US sees the reaffirmation of the 2001 declaration as the next worse thing.
Then there is the phrase "foreign occupation" used in 2001. Although Israel and the Palestinians are no longer mentioned in the new document, the phrase has survived, though it is now used to emphasise the need to protect "all those under foreign occupation." That is enough of an echo of 2001 to disturb the US, Israel and its allies. Then there is the phrase "foreign occupation" used in 2001. Although Israel and the Palestinians are no longer mentioned in the new document, the phrase has survived, though it is now used to emphasise the need to protect "all those under foreign occupation". That is enough of an echo of 2001 to disturb the US, Israel and its allies.
The question of Islam has also been a major one.The question of Islam has also been a major one.
During the negotiations leading up to the meeting, there was an attempt by some Islamic countries to introduce the concept of "defamation of religion". This would have had the effect, western and other critics argued of restraining free speech. During the negotiations leading up to the meeting, there was an attempt by some Islamic countries to introduce the concept of "defamation of religion". This would have had the effect, western and other critics argued, of restraining free speech.
In the final document, there is still a hint of this debate. The text deplores the "derogatory stereotyping and stigmatization of persons based on their religion." However, Islam alone is not protected as the document deplores all religious intolerance including "Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christian phobia and anti-Arabism." In the final document, there is still a hint of this debate. The text deplores the "derogatory stereotyping and stigmatization of persons based on their religion". However, Islam alone is not protected as the document deplores all religious intolerance including "Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christian phobia and anti-Arabism".
The text therefore has been hammered into a smoother surface. But enough rough patches remain to prevent a common agreement. Paul.Reynolds-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukThe text therefore has been hammered into a smoother surface. But enough rough patches remain to prevent a common agreement. Paul.Reynolds-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk