US Rethinking Boycott Of UN Meeting On Racism

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(04-13) 20:42 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

The Obama administration is reconsidering its planned boycott of a controversial U.N. racism conference that is deeply opposed by Israel and Jewish groups and will be attended by Iran's president, the State Department said late Monday.

In a move likely to upset its staunchest Mideast ally and its supporters, the department said the administration was pleased by a diplomatic push to revise an objectionable document that the meeting will adopt and suggested it could attend the meeting if the efforts succeed.

"We hope that these remaining concerns will be addressed so that the United States can re-engage the conference process with the hope of arriving at a conference document that we can support," spokesman Robert Wood said in a statement.

The announcement came as the administration reviews its policy on Iran with an eye toward engaging the Islamic government and as Iran's official news agency reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the April 20-25 World Conference Against Racism in Geneva.

In February, the Obama administration said it would not attend the U.N. meeting unless its final document was changed to drop all references to Israel and the defamation of religion.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/0...

[provis99]

1. so Canada is the only other country boycotting?

Geez, that Prime Minister is a right-wing asshole. What the hell is wrong with Canada? I thought they had more sense than us.

[cali]

9. no, Italy is boycotting. Australia is threatening and so are the Netherlands

and other EU countries. HRC changed the language of resolutions after protests from these countries, but some still aren't fully on board.

[iandhr]

2. what the hell is wrong with the UN

First.

To equate with the movement to have a Jewish state (Zionism) and racism is just wrong


I also googled the UN human rights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Commission_...

and China and Cuba are on the commission what the fuck is that. How does China get on a Human rights commission

[harmonicon]

5. how is Zionism not racism?

Is it not the belief that a certain subset of people have inherent rights (in this case, over land and citizenship) over others based on their genetic make up?

[davidinalameda]

7. but China and Cuba treat their citizens so much better than Israel

where have you been?

[iandhr]

3. I also looked

Zimbabwe, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and the past memberships of Algeria, Syria, Libya, and Vietnam on the Commission


I know we are talking about two separate issues. But this is a reason that I DO NOT TAKE THE UN SERIOUSLY. Zimbabwe where who does not support Mugabe "disappears". Saudi ARabia one of the most repressive places for women and LIbya gets on a commission for human rights.


I would take the UN more seriously if they were serious about the issues they clam to care about. For instance. If you care about human rights you do not have some of the world violaters of hummans rights on a commission for human rights.

Also you do not describe the movement for a Jewish homeland racists.

[Hulk]

4. Screw Israel!

How about WE do what is in OUR best interest for a change??

We may not like what we hear, but if the shoe fits, you need to wear it...or do something about it!

[SpartanDem]

6. Anyone know where I can find a copy

of orignial and the new draft?

[Hope And Change]

8. Try this website...

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