Nejad triggers EU walkout

GENEVA (Agencies) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Israel of being the most cruel and
racist regime, sparking a walkout Monday by angry European Union delegates at a UN anti-racism conference.
The meeting which had already been boycotted by several Western countries such as the United States and
Australia, as well as Israel, was plunged into further controversy as Ahmadinejad took to the stage.
Several demonstrators were ejected as the Iranian president began his speech at the conference in Geneva and
soon afterwards delegates from the European Union quit the conference room in protest at some of his
comments.
Ahmadinejad, who has previously called for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map, criticised the creation of a
totally racist government in occupied Palestine in 1948, calling it the most cruel and racist regime.
They sent migrants from Europe, the United States ... in order to establish a racist government in the occupied
Palestine, he added. But while the speech from the Iranian leader, who has also described the Nazi Holocaust
as a myth, was shunned by Western powers, other delegates who stayed to hear him speak greeted his words
with applause.
His address came after he held talks with UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, who had kicked off the conference by
criticising countries who decided to stay away from Geneva.
Some nations, who by rights should be helping to forge a path to a better future, are not here, Ban said, telling
delegates he was profoundly disappointed.
I deeply regret that some have chosen to stand aside, he added before holding his own meeting with
Ahmadinejad.
In a statement released through his spokeswoman, Ban said that he would not tolerate any denying of the
Holocaust, the slaughter of European Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II.
He condemns Holocaust denial and those who minimise the importance of the Holocaust, Bans
spokeswoman said.
The UN Secretary General told the meeting that the Holocaust was also a reminder that racism may be
institutionalised.
Alternately it may express itself less formally as the hatred of a particular people or class - as anti-Semitism, for
example, or the newer Islamophobia.
The concept of Islamophobia has been at the heart of a debate about blasphemy or defamation of religions,
because some western countries and campaign groups fear recognition of the latter would challenge freedom of
speech.
But despite his comments, the diplomatic fallout spread as Israel recalled its ambassador in protest at the Swiss
presidents decision to meet Ahmadinejad the Iranians first formal meeting with a Western head of state
since taking office in 2005.
Poland became the latest nation to boycott the meeting after the United States, Israel, Canada, Australia,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
Some European countries who did attend the event had warned that they would walk out if Ahmadinejad made
anti-Semitic accusations during the event.
If he utters racist or anti-Semitic accusations, we will leave the room immediately, French Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner told France Info radio.
Kouchner said later that no compromise was possible in the light of Ahmadinejads remarks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded countries that decided to boycott this festival of hate.
The European Jewish Congress said Ahmadinejads presence meant the UN had put the fox in charge of the
hen house
At least three demonstrators, dressed as clowns and shouting racist, racist, were hustled out of the conference.
The French Union of Jewish Students claimed responsibility for the incident, in a statement that denounced the
five-day conference as a masquerade.
The walkout was a repeat of the last such conference against racism held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 when
US and Israeli delegates stormed off over comments by delegates equating racism and Zionism.
We speak of finding a new unity, as the times demand. Yet we remain weak and divided and stuck in old ways,
Ban said Monday.
The Geneva meeting is meant to take stock of progress in fighting racial discrimination, xenophobia and
intolerance since Durban.
But the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights underlined recently that the goals set then had not been
achieved.
Monday is the 120th anniversary of Nazi leader Adolf Hitlers birth and also marks the start of Holocaust
commemoration events, including a ceremony in Geneva attended by leading Jewish figures.