Canada, U.S. to boycott world racism conference

When delegates assemble Monday for the first UN-sponsored global racism conference since the Durban, South Africa gathering eight years ago some prominent nations would be absent, most notably the United States, Canada, Israel and Australia.

They are concerned that Islamic states might demand that the conference denounce Israel and ban criticism of Islam. The Obama administration has said it would boycott the week-long event in Geneva "with regret".

Commenting on the conference, Obama told reporters in Port of Spain, where he attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas, "I would love to be involved in a useful conference that addressed issues of racism and discrimination around the globe."

However he said the language of the UN's draft declaration "raised a whole set of objectionable provisions". He fears it would be a repeat of the Durban racism conference "which became a session through which folks expressed antagonism toward Israel in ways that were often times completely hypocritical and counterproductive."

Canada's view is that the conference is likely to promote racism, not combat it. Jason Kenney, Canada's secretary of state for multiculturalism, has said Ottawa is sure the conference would "showcase the same regrettable anti-Semitism" as the 2001 meeting.

He told reporters, "Our government sees no value in allowing Canada's participation to continue to dignify or legitimate such hateful and un-Canadian propaganda."

The major sticking points regarding the proposed final UN declaration are its implied criticism of Israel and an attempt by Muslim governments to ban all criticism of Islam, Shariah law, the Prophet Muhammad and other tenets of their faith.

The draft statement does not mention Israel by name, but it reaffirms the Durban statement and its reference to the plight of Palestinians. That document was agreed after the United States and Israel had walked out over attempts to liken Zionism to racism.

Some European countries are still deciding whether to attend. The Netherlands, Germany and Italy have already pulled out. Britain is sending diplomats.

European countries also have criticized the meeting for focusing heavily on the West and ignoring problems of racism and intolerance in the developing world. Pope Benedict is supporting the conference as something that is needed to eliminate racial intolerance around the world.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is on record as calling for the destruction of Israel and has also denied the Holocaust, is on the schedule to speak on Monday.