US to boycott UN conference on racism

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 19 (PTI) The United States has said it
will not attend the UN conference on racism as its concerns
will not be addressed in the document to be adopted at the
international meeting at Geneva beginning tomorrow.

"Unfortunately, it now seems certain these remaining
concerns will not be addressed in the document to be adopted
by the conference next week. Therefore, with regret, the
United States will not join the review conference," the State
Department Acting Spokesman, Robert Wood, said in a
statement Saturday.

At the same time, the US said it remains fully committed
to upholding the human rights of all individuals and to
fighting racial discrimination of every form in every context.
"We will continue to work assiduously in all United Nations
fora and with all nations to combat bigotry and end
discrimination," Wood said.

Reaffirming its commitment to end racism and racial
discrimination, Wood said the US will work with all people and
nations to build greater resolve and enduring political will
to halt racism and discrimination wherever it occurs.

The US said the proposed document to be adopted at the
conference is much improved version than earlier, and
appreciated the efforts in this regard by several countries
including Russia as chair.

"We applaud the progress that has been made. The
current document is significantly improved compared with
prior versions, which is an accomplishment for all who aim to
build a world free of every form of discrimination," he said.

"However, the text still contains language that
reaffirms in toto the Durban Declaration and Programme of
Action (DDPA) from 2001, which the United States has long said
it is unable to support," Wood said.

"Its inclusion in the review conference document has
the same effect as inserting that original text into the
current document and re-adopting it. The DDPA singles out one
particular conflict and prejudges key issues that can only be
resolved in negotiations between the Israelis and
Palestinians," he said.

The US also has serious concerns with relatively new
additions to the text regarding "incitement," that run counter
to the US commitment to unfettered free speech, the statement
said. PTI LKJ
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