Egypt urges France not to walk out of Durban conference

Egypt on Friday called on France not to withdraw from the Durban World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), saying this would have a negative impact on the gathering and the public opinion in Arab and African countries towards Europe.

Ambassador to France Ali Maher held talks Friday with Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine upon directives form Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, During which he told the French top diplomat that Egypt saw no reason for a withdrawal by France from the conference because texts were still under discussion, and the Arab and African sides showed flexibility.

In statements ambassador Maher said he stressed to Vedrine the necessity that France and other European countries show some flexibility for the conference not to fail.

"Meanwhile, the Arab and Islamic group in the (WCAR) had decided to prepare a collective statement calrifying the group's stance over Mideast-related issued," Egypt's chief delegate to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Fayza Abul Naga said late Friday.

The statement would be delivered by the head of the Egyptian delegation to the conference, she added. The statement would include the Arab and Islamic group's stance over a paper submitted by Foreign Minister of South Africa Nkosazana Dlaminizuma, Abul Naga said.

The group has reservations over paroposals on the Palestinian issue, the Palestinian people's sufferings and Israeli practices and policies, she added.

Middle East News Agency learnt that proposals presented by Zuma to the Arab group, which raised reservations from the Arab and Islamic participants and were rejected by the European side, included the following remarks:

1. We are conscious of the fact that the history of humanity is replete with major atrocities as a result of the gross violation of human rights and believe that lessons can be learnt through remembering history to avert future tragedies.

2.We recall that the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

3. We recognize with deep concern religious intolerance against certain religious communities, as well as the emergence of hostile acts and violence against such communities because of their religious beliefs and their racial or ethnic origin in various parts of the world with in particular limit their right to freely practice their beliefs.

4- we also recognize with deep concern the increase of anti-Semitism and Islam phobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities.

We are conscious that humanity's history is replete with terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the quality of human beings and note with alarm the increase of such practices in various parts of the world, and we urge people, particularly in conflict situations, to desist from racist incitement, derogatory language and negative stereotyping.

6. we're are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right for the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all states to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion.

7. We call for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region in which all peoples shall co-exist and enjoy equality, justice and internationally-recognized human rights, and security.

8. We recognize the right of refugees to return voluntarily to their homes and properties in dignity and safety, and urge all States to facilitate such return.

As regards the draft programme of action Zuma submitted the following points:

1. We believe that all conflicts and disputes should be resolved through peaceful means and political dialogue. We call on all parties involved in such conflicts to exercise restraint and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

2- We call upon States, in opposing all forms of racism, to recognize the need to counter anti-Semitism, anti-Arabism and Islam phobia world-wide and urge all States to take effective measures to prevent the emergence of movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas concerning these communities.

3- As for the situation in the Middle East, we call for the end of violence and the swift resumption of negotiations, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, respect for the principle of self-determination and the end of all suffering, thus allowing Israel and the palestinians to resume the peace process, and to develop and prosper in security and freedom.

On his part, Palestinian chief delegate to the UN Nasser al- Qedwa described as unsatisfactory the situation in the UN World Conference Against Racism.

In statements late Friday, Qedwa said that there have been no negotiations over a text proposed by Nkosazana Dlaminizuma on the situation in the occupied territories.

The Arab and Islamic group has repeatedly asserted keenness on preserving the interests of their friendly nations, including the African ones, said Qedwa.

When the European Union (EU) threatened to quit, there was readiness to put all Mideast-related pares aside provided that the EU takes responsibility for this and the conference takes a clear stance over African issues, he added.

Asked about UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson's stance over Arab and Islamic proposals, Qedwa described it as a sad example of an honest person succumbing to realistic power balances.

The Arab and Islamic group objected to the paper presented by the chairman of the conference as it did not deal with basic issues, namely the Palestinian people's sufferings under Israeli occupation and practices, the Palestinian diplomat said.

He added that though there was a breakthrough in the final document, it was not enough.

Meanwhile, the Afro-Arab Peoples Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO) released a statement in Cairo in which it described the final communique as a historic document.

In the statement, AAPSO chief Murad Ghaleb said that repressed peoples rejected and resisted all forms of discrimination.

He added that the event has turned into a massive demonstration condemning Zionism, colonialism and racism and demanding an apology for slavery and compensations.

He described the U.S. and Israeli walkout from the conference as a declaration of defeat.

In Pretoria, the Palestinians have became increasingly concerned over possible success of Western pressures to produce a statement that does not condemn Israel.

Ragi al-Sourani, director general of the Palestinian Human Rights Centre said that Israel was the only one that opposed the condemnation of the Jewish state. He added that it was a paper presented by the world civil society. He demanded that Robinson resign her post.

It is noted that the conference would reach a deadlock due to the aforementioned conflicts and due to the failure of the new initiative drawn up by South Africa to bring about a relief in Mideast problem.

The initiative supports the Palestinian right, however, it does not describe Israel as a racist state.

A participant asserted that the European Group turned down the paper tabled by South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Zuma on the situation in the Palestinian lands and insisted on including the relevant UN resolutions.

Well-informed sources said this meant the European side has placed the ISSUE of the Palestinians' sufferings on a standstill, taking things back to their pre-WCAR position.

On the issue of slavery compensations, the EU floated a proposal on regretting slavery without making an apology or mentioning anything about compensations.

The African side is still studying the situation.

The Arab and Islamic sides are engaged in intensive consultations on this, said Palestinian chief delegate to the UN Naser el-Qedwa.

Meanwhile, the closing session of the UN World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), originally slated for Friday night, was postponed to Saturday, said Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for International Affairs Suliman Awad.

In statements Awad, who leads his country's delegation to the conference, said that for the postponement was made due to lack of an agreement over a final communique, especially on the Mideast issue and African compensations.

There would be more consultations over the final communique as there are disagreements on the Mideast situation and African compensations, Awad said.

He added that the conference decided to halt all workings tonight as the committee assigned with communique has failed to finish its work.

The Egyptian delegation decided to postpone departure, originally slated for Saturday, in order to attend the closing session, which will be held Saturday evening.

The decision frustrated Arab and Islamic delegations who were expecting a final communique and a condemnation of Israeli massacres against Palestinians in the occupied territories.