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Iran's leader Ahmadinejad sparks Western walkout at UN meeting
Iranian leader described the Holocaust as a "pretext" for aggression, prompting European diplomats to walk out.
- AP
- Published: 20:38 April 20, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, right background, looks on as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, front, gestures during his speech at the UN Racism conference at the United Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the Holocaust as a "pretext" for aggression against Palestinians, prompting European diplomats to walk out of a speech disrupted by jeering protesters in rainbow wigs tossing red clown noses at the hardline leader.
Ahmadinejad was the first government official to take the floor at a UN racism conference opening on the eve of Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day.
Two protesters in clown costumes tossed soft red objects at Ahmadinejad as he recited a Muslim prayer to begin his speech.
A Jewish student group from France later took credit for causing the disturbance, saying members threw clown noses to "symbolise the mascarade that this conference represents."
Ahmadinejad restarted his talk and delivered a speech that lasted more than a half-hour, saying the United States and Europe had helped establish Israel after World War II and victimise Palestinians "under the pretext of Jewish suffering."
That prompted a walkout by some 40 diplomats from Britain and France and other European countries that had threatened to leave the conference if it descended into anti-Semitism or other rhetoric harshly critical of Israel, which marred the UN's last racism gathering eight years ago in South Africa.
The United States and eight other Western countries were already boycotting the event because of concerns about its fairness.
Ahmadinejad went on to accuse Israel of being the "most cruel and racist regime."
Protesters held placards reading "This is a circus. A racist cannot fight racism," and repeatedly interrupted the speech with shouts of "Shame! shame!" and "Racist! racist!"
Later, about 100 members of mainly pro-Israel and Jewish groups tried to block Ahmadinejad's entrance to a scheduled news conference.
Ban Ki-moon disappointed
UN chief Ban Ki-moon met with Ahmadinejad before his speech and said he counselled the Iranian leader to avoid dividing the conference. Ban said he was disappointed Ahmadinejad had used his speech "to accuse, divide and even incite," directly opposing the aim of the meeting.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned Ahmadinejad's speech and Ban's meeting with the Iranian leader.
"It is unfortunate that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deemed it appropriate to meet with the greatest Holocaust denier of our time, the head of a UN member state who calls for the destruction of another UN member state. This matter is especially severe, as it took place on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day," Israel said.
Ahmadinejad, as head of state, had the right to speak and did not need a UN invitation to the weeklong event aimed at stamping out intolerance worldwide.
Speaking directly after Ahmadinejad's speech, Norway's foreign minister said the Iranian leader's comments "run counter to the very spirit of dignity of the conference."
Ahmadinejad "has made Iran the odd man out," Jonas Gahr Store said.
Ahmadinejad has often used international forums to criticise Israel including at last year's UN General Assembly where he said Israel was on "a definite slope to collapse."
His comments on Monday could also further strain efforts to improve relations with the United States, Israel's top ally. Iran has been mostly lukewarm to overtures from President Barack Obama, but last week Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic was ready for a new relationship with Washington.
"He ascribed all the problems relating to racism in the modern world to Israel and the Jewish state, and that was enough for me to walk out," British Ambassador Peter Gooderham said.
In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned what he called "an intolerable call to racist hate" and urged a firm reaction by the European Union.
Ahmadinejad's speech also took aim at the United States for its role in the global economic crisis and at Western countries for imposing unfair economic conditions on the developing world. Among his more brazen claims was the allegation that Zionists instigated the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq in concert with weapons manufacturers.
Iran's state TV broadcast pictures showing some delegates cheering and other delegates leaving the conference.
"The president confidently continued his speech despite efforts by some Western diplomats to disrupt his address," it said.
Ahmadinejad is up for re-election in June, but his popularity has been waning as Iran's economy struggles with high-inflation and unemployment. Many have criticised Ahmadinejad for spending too much time on anti-Israel and anti-Western rhetoric and not enough on the country's economy.
How effective do you think the anti-racism conference will be in addressing the issue of racism? Has politics overshadowed the issue in the conference?
Your comments
For the people who walked out, it was hard swallowing the truth. It is no doubt double standards. What they do is correct in Afghanistan and Iraq. For others to even speak against them is treated with contempt.
Abdullah Esmail
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 21, 2009, 18:27
Unfortunately,Representatives of a few countries which left the conference after Mr Ahmadinejad's Stance towards zionism, showed that they are not regretful of their Israeli ally's brutal actions on palestinian and lebanese soil, and will continue their blind support of a state whose actions are several times condemnded by international organisations and proved as an act of racism.
Syed Hassan Zaidi
Tehran,Iran
Posted: April 21, 2009, 17:12
Iran's leader Ahmadinejad has spent his entire presidency in hatred towards Israel, U.S and practically every other country in the world. He has always boasted his countries new found nuclear power and surely, his country is seeing it self fall to the lowest of ranks, both economically and also culturally. Its time that he gives peace a change. There is hope for the people of Iran during the June Presidential Elections, that they dont repeat the same mistake which they made 5 years ago.
Hansel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 21, 2009, 17:09
I think that the Iranian President should not have brought this up during such a sensitive time when the world is trying to make amends for all the wrongdoings of the past. I do however empathise with the anger of such nations towards Israel. The victims of the Second World War are not being remembered and respected in the right way. Both parties are to blame here. It is a case of my people versus your people. People should stop marking territory really. Start to value life and treat yourself as a global citizen. It is our very selfishness that leads to our destruction. We are all human beings and peace should be a common goal - not bullying or blame gaming. If anything, we should do this as a mark of respect to those poor souls that have lost their lives to through brutal and unspeakable actions.
From A Reader
Mumbai,India
Posted: April 21, 2009, 10:38
so far the conference is effective in addresing the issue of racism, the walk out of the so called 'civilised nations' reflects that truth is always bitter, if they thought themselves right, then they must have stayed there and defended themselves. yes politcs overshadowed the conference.
Mohammad Rehan
Lahore,Pakistan
Posted: April 21, 2009, 10:34
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