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Last update - 12:04 27/05/2008
`Durban 2` anti-racism meeting to be held in Geneva
By Reuters
Tags: durban, united nations 

A major United Nations conference on racism and xenophobia, a follow-up to an acrimonious 2001 summit on the same subjects, will be held in
Geneva in April 2009, the world body said.

Diplomats resolved their differences on the date, duration and venue of the Durban Review Conference at closed-door talks on Monday, the UN said in a statement issued overnight.
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Preparatory talks had been marked by difficult negotiations between Western and Islamic countries amid calls by American Jewish groups for the United States to boycott what they fear could be an anti-Israel event, according to diplomats involved.

The conference will be held from April 20 to 24 next year to chart progress in the global fight against racism since a landmark conference seven years ago which laid down a blueprint for addressing the issue.

The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance was marked by wrangling about Middle Eastern and African demands for reparations for slavery, and attempts by Islamic countries to brand Israel as racist.

Canada said earlier this year it would not take part in the Durban follow-up forum because it was likely to descend into "regrettable anti-Semitism."

The United States, Israel's main ally, is seeking guarantees it will not become an anti-Israel event, diplomats say. The European Union (EU) took part in Geneva preparatory talks and has signalled it will decide later this year whether to attend the follow-up conference.

Israel and the United States walked out of the 2001 Durban conference in protest over draft conference texts branding Israel as a racist and apartheid state -- language that was later dropped.

Diplomats have agreed a range of issues, including which non-governmental organizations may be accredited to take part in the follow-up meeting, and have begun drafting the review conference's final document, the UN statement said.

Further preparatory talks are slated for October, before which regional sessions will be held. Brazil will host a Latin American session set for mid-June, and Nigeria has offered to host the African session.

Related articles:
  • South Africa withdraws request to host 'Durban 2' conference
  • Jerusalem & Babylon / Ignoring Durban summit not an option
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      1.   Fear of criticism? 12:22  |  Natallie Durson 27/05/08
      2.   Will they talk about equal oportunities in Brazil? And Swiss inmi 12:33  |  Alain 27/05/08
      3.   "Diplomats have begun drafting the final document"? 13:07  |  Rowan 27/05/08
      4.   Let Israel and its client state US have their say 13:22  |  El-Birawi 27/05/08
      5.   #4 Al-Birawi; How can you see it if you are so obviously blind 13:38  |  Haham me Bat Yam 27/05/08
      6.   Bravo to Haaretz,:First printed posts are all anti israeli 13:41  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 27/05/08
      7.   True face of UN and barbaric states 14:03  |  Rosen 27/05/08
      8.   Xenophobia in South Africa 14:08  |  Raoul 27/05/08
      9.   The Durban Hitler T shirts and Mein Kampf salesmen will be upset 14:37  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
      10.   DURSON No fear of yet another UN instition hijacked by Moslems 14:41  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
      11.   Yes El Birawi and we see it in your postings 14:46  |  x-ray 27/05/08
      12.   For those with short memories 15:19  |  Natallie Durson 27/05/08
      13.   THE ASTONISHING GALL OF THE ISRAEL HATERS 15:21  |  Brant 27/05/08
      14.   #2 in Switzerland is very appropos 15:45  |  Arie 27/05/08
      15.   Israel should cut ties with Switzerland 16:00  |  Jabadini 27/05/08
      16.   Gnatallie: Fear of Realism 16:28  |  Tex 27/05/08
      17.   Ironic: S-Africa has now become what Israel there was deprecated 16:49  |  AliciaYasmeen 27/05/08
      18.   Racist of the World, Unite! .... in Geneva 18:03  |  17 27/05/08
      19.   @ #12 Durson 18:20  |  Dutch 27/05/08
      20.   @DURSON 19:03  |  Ralph 27/05/08
      21.   # 1 Durson...conference isn`t a fight 19:27  |  Lynn 27/05/08
      22.   # 12 Durson of the short memory 19:30  |  Lynn 27/05/08
      23.   What will they do to stop racism? 03:27  |  Linda Glasheen 01/06/08
      24.   Rasicm or right to have an oppinion 17:16  |  Hans Donnerborg 14/09/08
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