Maher attends Anti-Racism Conference in Durban

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher will lead the Egyptian delegation to the Anti-Racism Conference set to open in Durban, South Africa, on August 31.

Diplomatic sources said that Maher, who will leave Cairo Thursday, is to have a series of meetings with other chief delegates on the sidelines of the gathering on the recent regional and international developments atop of which comes the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

The Egyptian delegation groups Ambassador Soliman Awad, Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral International Relations, ambassador Fayza Abul Naga, Egyptian Chief Delegate to the United Nations in Geneva and Egyptian ambassador to South Africa Naela Gabr.

The conference will probe issues of racial discrimination, labourers move, immigration, religion, media, education, UN system and the impacts of globalisation.

Prior to the conference due next Friday, the Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations NGOs concerned with human rights, starts today in Durban with the participation of more than 7000 representatives.

The forum which will be inaugurated by South Africa President Thabo Muvyelwa Mbeki ,witnesses many symposiums to discuss raised issues and many marches will be organised to condemn the US stance that supports Israel.

Meanwhile, Non-Governmental Organisations for human rights expressed objection to UN Commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson to place it on the conference agenda.