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Negotiations on to salvage Racism Conference from collapsing
Intense negotiations were on Tuesday to salvage the first-ever UN conference against racism after the US and Israeli pullout with delegates struggling to draft a new text of the declaration that may delete the harsh words against the Jewish state.
Intense negotiations were on Tuesday to salvage the first-ever UN conference against racism after the US and Israeli pullout with delegates struggling to draft a new text of the declaration that may delete the harsh words against the Jewish state.
The 15-member European Union, which has decided not to follow the US and Israeli action, is engaged in drafting the new text at the request of the host South Africa.
An informal group, chaired by South African foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, comprising the EU and a number of other countries, including African and Arab nations, has been set up to draft the new text acceptable to all delegations. Belgian foreign minister Louis Michel, who is also the president of the council of 15-member European Union, said that the EU has mandated him to accept the proposal made by Dlamini-Zuma which consists in drafting a completely new text. Dlamini-Zuma said that we want to come to an agreement that will be acceptable to all delegations.
The US decision to pull out of the talks has come in for sharp criticism from various countries with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan saying that Washington should have focused more on the conference's main goals.
I consider it regrettable. The questions of racism, xenophobia and intolerance is something that all societies live in and should fight against, he said.
Bureau Report
An informal group, chaired by South African foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, comprising the EU and a number of other countries, including African and Arab nations, has been set up to draft the new text acceptable to all delegations. Belgian foreign minister Louis Michel, who is also the president of the council of 15-member European Union, said that the EU has mandated him to accept the proposal made by Dlamini-Zuma which consists in drafting a completely new text. Dlamini-Zuma said that we want to come to an agreement that will be acceptable to all delegations.
The US decision to pull out of the talks has come in for sharp criticism from various countries with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan saying that Washington should have focused more on the conference's main goals.
I consider it regrettable. The questions of racism, xenophobia and intolerance is something that all societies live in and should fight against, he said.
Bureau Report