EU split on boycott of UN racism conference

EU states were split Sunday on whether to follow a US boycott of a controversial UN conference on racism in Geneva, where Iran's president is expected to launch a verbal onslaught on Israel.

Germany became the latest country to announce it would not be attending the five-day Durban Review Conference, joining Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States.

But it did hold out the possibility of joining the event later in the week.

France, on the other hand, will attend, said a source close to President Nicolas Sarkozy's office.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Geneva Sunday, one of the few heads of state attending.

Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" and questioned the Holocaust as a "myth", is to address the gathering at around 3:00 pm 1300 GMT Monday.

Earlier Sunday Ahmadinejad -- who is seeking re-election in June -- was quoted by Iran's state broadcaster as saying "the Zionist ideology and regime are the flag bearers of racism".

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yossi Levy denounced the event as a "tragic farce".

The Geneva meeting is meant to take stock of progress in fighting racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance since the controversial World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, eight years ago.

But Levy said: "Officially it is aimed at denouncing racism, but it has invited a Holocaust denier who has called for the destruction of Israel."

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said they could not be sure the conference would be used "as a platform to air offensive views, including anti-Semitic views".

US President Barack Obama said anti-Israeli language that was "oftentimes completely hypocritical and counterproductive" in the draft final communique had been the red line for his administration.

European Union governments were divided over whether or not to attend.

Belgium called for countries to attend after the Netherlands vowed to stay away because it feared the event would be abused "for political ends and attacks on the West".

Britain, while expressing reservations, said it still intended to attend.

And a source close to Sarkozy's office told AFP late Sunday: "France will go to Geneva... in order to articulate its standpoint on human rights issues."

Junior Minister for Human Rights Rama Yade warned that France would "not tolerate any verbal slander".

Campaigners Human Rights Watch said the boycotting states were "turning their backs" on victims of racism.





Bodybuilders compete in the Open Kiev Cup for Bodybuilding competition in Kiev. AFP/Sergei Supinsky

Prices, review, pictures

Prices, review, pictures

Listings provided by Cars.com