The decision by the Italian government not to participate in the preparations for next month's UN anti-racism conference in Geneva ('Durban Review Conference', or 'Durban II') over concerns that it will become a repeat of the failed September 2001 conference in Durban, South Africa, has been warmly welcomed by the World Jewish Congress (WJC). President Ronald S. Lauder said: "Italy has given a strong signal, which should be a rallying call for other European Union countries. The leadership of Prime Minister Berlusconi and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini have shown on this issue is praiseworthy. All 27 European Union governments should now announce their withdrawal from this conference. That is the only way to prevent another disaster," he pointed out.
Lauder added: "We will continue to try and convince governments that a lackluster response to the looming repeat of the 2001 Durban anti-Israel forum would seriously undermine their impartiality and credibility in fighting human rights abuses in the world. The World Jewish Congress will continue to urge world leaders not to send delegations to the Durban Review Conference, because they would lend credibility to the efforts by some states to single out Israel for criticism, restrict freedom of expression and distract from the very real problems of state-sponsored racism in their own countries."
The WJC president said he expected other EU countries such as Britain, France and Germany to follow the Italian decision soon. "The EU countries have promised to give an unambiguous and united response on this issue. We hope that it will soon be forthcoming." Last week, the United States announced it would not take part in the Durban Review Conference. Canada and Israel already pulled out in 2008."
Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini also decided to postpone a planned trip to Iran in protest over remarks against Israel and the US administration by Tehran's leadership, the Foreign Ministry in Rome said in a statement. Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels, Frattini said Italy had withdrawn its delegation from the preparatory negotiations ahead of the Durban II conference due to "aggressive and anti-Semitic statements" in the draft of the event's final document. The United States has also said it will not attend unless the wording of the final declaration is radically altered. Several European countries signalled on Wednesday, in speeches to the UN Human Rights Council, that they feared the universal right of free speech would be at risk if the conference called for a ban on "defamation of religion."
See the WJC feature on the Durban Review Conference
