Ahmadinejad prompts walkout from U.N. racism summit

By Laura MacInnis


GENEVA (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad prompted a rare walk-out at the United Nations on Monday when he called Israel a "cruel and repressive racist regime" in his remarks to a conference on race.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the address which prompted dozens of delegates to leave their seats, further undermining the summit which some Western powers including the United States are boycotting. "It was a very troubling experience for me as secretary-general," he told a news conference at the day's end. "I have not seen, experienced, this kind of disruptive proceedings of the assembly, the conference, by any one member state. It was a totally unacceptable situation."

Washington announced on Saturday it would sit out the Geneva forum on fears it would be dominated by unfair criticism against Israel. Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands then followed suit. Their boycott left Ahmadinejad, who has in the past cast doubt on the Nazi Holocaust, in the spotlight as the only head of state at the conference. His speech produced exactly the kind of language that they feared, which had also caused Canada and Israel to announce months ago they would stay away.

"Following World War Two they resorted to military aggressions to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering," Ahmadinejad told the conference, on the day that Jewish communities commemorate the Holocaust. "And they sent migrants from Europe, the United States and other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in the occupied Palestine," he said, according to the official translation. "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine."

U.S. CALLS SPEECH "VILE"

Washington decried Ahmadinejad's speech as "vile and hateful," while the Vatican called it "extremist and unacceptable." Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called the address both "unsavory" and "obnoxious." "I was shocked and deeply saddened by everything he said," she told journalists. "I don't think, though, that his behavior provided any justification for any other member state to walk out from this conference."

Dozens of diplomats in the audience promptly got up and left the hall for the duration of the speech. While most returned when Ahmadinejad finished speaking, the Czech Republic said its delegation would no longer take part in the conference. "Such outrageous anti-Semitic remarks should have no place in a U.N. anti-racism forum," said British ambassador Peter Gooderham, whose country chose not to send a minister to Geneva. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store told the plenary after Ahmadinejad's speech that Iran had isolated itself. "Norway will not accept that the odd man out hijacks the collective efforts of the many," he said.

However, a number of the delegations that remained behind applauded Ahmadinejad. Ban, who had held a meeting with Ahmadinejad before the address, said it was "deeply regrettable" that the Iranian leader had ignored his plea to avoid causing upset. "I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian President to accuse, divide and even incite," he said. "We must all turn away from such a message in both form and substance."

Earlier on Monday, Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland in protest about the conference and Israeli officials also voiced anger at a meeting that Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz held on Sunday with Ahmadinejad. Arab and Muslim attempts to single out the Jewish state for criticism had prompted the United States to walk out of the first U.N. summit on racism, in South Africa in 2001. Although a declaration prepared for the follow-up conference does not refer explicitly to Israel or the Middle East, its first paragraph "reaffirms" a text adopted at the 2001 meeting which includes six paragraphs on those sensitive issues.

I couldn't believe the organisers gave this moron the chance to speak here. What he was going to say was so predictable!
He is an embarrassment to all of us Iranians.

UN seeks to turn page on Ahmadinejad, protests
AP

Raw Video: Iran's leader sparks Western walkout Play Video AP – Raw Video: Iran's leader sparks Western walkout

* Wigged Men Heckle Iranian Pres. Play Video Video:Wigged Men Heckle Iranian Pres. ABC News
* U.S., Israel lead U.N. racism summit boycott Play Video Video:U.S., Israel lead U.N. racism summit boycott AP
* AP Top Stories Play Video Video:AP Top Stories AP

A red nose of a clown is thrown at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by an AP – A red nose of a clown is thrown at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by an activist, as he delivers …
By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER, Associated Press Writer Bradley S. Klapper, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 23 mins ago

GENEVA – The United Nations sought Tuesday to rally nations against intolerance a day after the anti-Israel speech by Iran's president sparked protests and swelled the U.S.-led list of countries boycotting the world racism conference.

Dozens of Western diplomats walked out during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech and a pair of rainbow-wigged protesters threw clown noses at Iran's hardline leader Monday when he called Israel the "most cruel and repressive racist regime."

France, which later returned to the conference, said it was optimistic the U.N. would move on and approve a declaration by Tuesday night committing the world to fight racism.

The meeting is "not at all a failure but the beginning of a success," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on French radio.

The global body was similarly hopeful.

"In the drama of yesterday (Monday) everyone forgot what the conference is actually about," U.N. spokesman Rupert Colville said. "I think we're back on track now."

Conference organizers have sought desperately to avoid the same problems that marred the last global racism gathering eight years ago in Durban, South Africa. The U.S. and Israel walked out midway into that event over an attempt by Muslim countries to liken Zionism — the movement to establish a Jewish state in the Holy Land — to racism.

Even though any final document will have no enforcement power, and will likely do little in the short-term to improve the situation of minorities around the world, it arouses great passion from all governments.

Israel is not mentioned anywhere in the agreement prepared for the current meeting, which seeks to avoid any offense but has angered many in the Muslim world for its failure to point the finger directly at the Jewish state for its treatment of Palestinians.

Iran has fought to minimize any reference to the Holocaust, while the Obama administration has said it cannot accept a reaffirmation of the U.N.'s 2001 declaration, which in its final version noted the "plight of the Palestinians" and Israel's right to security.

While themes from African poverty to the suffering of South America's indigenous peoples was discussed Tuesday in Geneva, the U.S. and eight other boycotting nations were joined on the sidelines by the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency.

China, which has prevented any criticism of how it treats Tibetans or members of the Falun Gong spiritual sect, called for dialogue and consensus to combat racism.

"New forms of racism keep cropping up so it is a very challenging job," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in Beijing. She called for "zero tolerance to racism at both the international and national levels."

But some delegates at the conference refused to look beyond the Middle East.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki called Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank the "ugliest face of racism."

The U.N., meanwhile, expelled 375 delegates representing different advocacy groups at the conference.

They included representatives of a Jewish student group that interrupted Ahmadinejad's speech with protests and attempted to block his appearance at a news conference. Iranian delegates that disrupted proceedings with their cheering were also removed from the meeting.

___

Associated Press writers Frank Jordans and Eliane Engeler contributed to this report.

He is an embarrassment to all of us Iranians.

Couldn't agree more Behrooz jaan.
LOL @ The clown nose - rather appropriate! :wavetowel2:

Having said that, I just had a different thought.
If this was supposed to be a conference on fighting intolerance, wasn't it a little hypocritical of world leaders to walk out?
Nobody likes AN, but you can't hold an "International" conference, and then expect everyone to have the same views as you. If everyone agreed then there wouldn't be a need to hold expensive meetings like this. Surely this is exactly the kind of place where world leaders should meet and listen to alternative views. Maybe there is something in what AN had to say about Israel. Let's face it, Israel is not exactly beyond criticism either.

Having said that, I just had a different thought.
If this was supposed to be a conference on fighting intolerance, wasn't it a little hypocritical of world leaders to walk out?
Nobody likes AN, but you can't hold an "International" conference, and then expect everyone to have the same views as you. If everyone agreed then there wouldn't be a need to hold expensive meetings like this. Surely this is exactly the kind of place where world leaders should meet and listen to alternative views. Maybe there is something in what AN had to say about Israel. Let's face it, Israel is not exactly beyond criticism either.
Behrouz jan,
I said it in the other thread. AN's presence was just an excuse for the US and Israel to walk out. I don't support AN, but his criticism is valid. It is hypocritical of him to say these things but still valid.

All these world leaders are hypocritical. With a name like ARS you can't expect anything but AN to come out! ;)

All these world leaders are hypocritical. With a name like ARS you can't expect anything but AN to come out! ;)

LOL, yeah it sure sounds like a very stinky place to hold international conference

:Fartbed:

LMAO. You know Hamid jaan, I never understood that Smiley until now! This is why you are and will forever remain the Smiley Master. :)

Having said that, I just had a different thought.
If this was supposed to be a conference on fighting intolerance, wasn't it a little hypocritical of world leaders to walk out?
Nobody likes AN, but you can't hold an "International" conference, and then expect everyone to have the same views as you. If everyone agreed then there wouldn't be a need to hold expensive meetings like this. Surely this is exactly the kind of place where world leaders should meet and listen to alternative views. Maybe there is something in what AN had to say about Israel. Let's face it, Israel is not exactly beyond criticism either.

True!!
But the messenger using an International Platform should also believe in his/her own message. AN being a head of an apartheid and a racist government doesn't hold any more moral higher ground than any other nation in the world, including Israel. At least Israel is doing it against presumed foreign enemy.

Behrouz jan,
I said it in the other thread. AN's presence was just an excuse for the US and Israel to walk out. I don't support AN, but his criticism is valid. It is hypocritical of him to say these things but still valid.

If don't act the way you preach your words will stand for nothing.
That is how valid I feel AN's words are.

If don't act the way you preach your words will stand for nothing.
That is how valid I feel AN's words are.

I could have not said it better. bravooo

If don't act the way you preach your words will stand for nothing.
That is how valid I feel AN's words are.
The way I see it, the organizers of the conference needed someone to say these things to Israel and they could not find anyone better than AN who would be willing to say these things.
As for doing what you preach, I don't think you can find one single politician in the world who doesn't violate this in one way or another.
You think US and Israel are any better in that department? Think again.

At the end of the day guys, this was an anti-racism summit and IMHO you can't accuse a nation of being racist, because you just become the hypocrate, biggot and racist that you're speaking against.

Had he come out and said what Isreal does in not treating Palestinians with respect and equality and how they could improve on that, it would have been one thing. But the outright comment that Isreali's are racist is itself a racist comment.

PJ;1881]The way I see it, the organizers of the conference needed someone to say these things to Israel and they could not find anyone better than AN who would be willing to say these things.

So if you're saying this was a trap and AN grabbed the hook and sinker then I won't argue with that.

As for doing what you preach, I don't think you can find one single politician in the world who doesn't violate this in one way or another.
You think US and Israel are any better in that department? Think again.

US or Israel has nothing to do with what the base of our conversation is about. US or Israel might not be any better but none is the one behind microphone screaming "Racism or apartheid" while keeping 1/2 of their own population under serious public discrimination, beating women & young girls, hanging their own citizens from scaffolding 16 at a time in public and so forth which you know about very well.
IMHO The value of a word could be utterly lessened or elevated depending from whose mouth is being shouted out. AN neither has the credentials nor credibility to deliver such a speech. Hot air as usual.

At the end of the day guys, this was an anti-racism summit and IMHO you can't accuse a nation of being racist, because you just become the hypocrate, biggot and racist that you're speaking against.

Had he come out and said what Isreal does in not treating Palestinians with respect and equality and how they could improve on that, it would have been one thing. But the outright comment that Isreali's are racist is itself a racist comment.
Behrou jAn,
IMO Israel has the right for a sovereign nation so does Palestine (I hope it happens one day and the world can get over with).
Having said that and considering my limited world knowledge, if I wanted to write about Israel committing genocide, flattening cities (Tyre and South Beirut), building illegal wall on some body else's land, baby killing, land grabbing and other well known atrocities they have committed ever since 1967, still I could write several pages.
But when AN starts breast thumping about them 89% of the world will perceive Israel as the victim, some time I think AN is working for Israelis, he always says/does something which ultimately makes the Jewish State to emerge as the benefactor.

An IR official condemning another government for bigotry is like a child molester denouncing another man for beating his kids.

It reminds me of the time David Duke was on CNN protesting Israel's discrimination against Palestinians! This jackass supported far worse treatment against Blacks in his own country, but all the sudden he was Mehatma Ghandi to score points against the Jews.:rolleyes:

I saw this discussion on AlJazeera today. A professor from tehran university was supporting An's speech & he said "The Sionist ideology is racist cuz they belive theyre chosen by God", I would really love to tell to that mofo, what about Velayate-fookin_faghih? isnt that the same shit?

I saw this discussion on AlJazeera today. A professor from tehran university was supporting An's speech & he said "The Sionist ideology is racist cuz they belive theyre chosen by God", I would really love to tell to that mofo, what about Velayate-fookin_faghih? isnt that the same shit?
Actually Einstein have also said such a thing.
http://www.newdemocracyworld.org/Einstein.htm
But yes instead of leaving the room I thought the EU members should have stayed and talked about velayate faghih and Irans religion apartheid,....
Truth is both Israel and Iran are religion apartheid states. AN cleverly bring this up to occupy our mind and distract our attentions from the very serious
problems. Just notice that riots have been less than in khatamis time. Just because of this issue.
________
SUZUKI BOULEVARD S83 HISTORY (http://www.suzuki-tech.com/wiki/Suzuki_Boulevard_S83)

I saw this discussion on AlJazeera today. A professor from tehran university was supporting An's speech & he said "The Sionist ideology is racist cuz they belive theyre chosen by God", I would really love to tell to that mofo, what about Velayate-fookin_faghih? isnt that the same shit?

But the answer to that is a simple one: velayate faghih IS from god ;)

Here comes the full speach of AN. Notice the Israeli guy at behind him. You
also can her this has been posted by Iranians. After the media only concentrated on the part when people are leaving.

YouTube - Ahmadinejad: The FULL Speech to the UN conference 1/4
YouTube - Ahmadinejad: The FULL Speech to the UN conference 2/4
YouTube - Ahmadinejad: The FULL Speech to the UN conference 3/4
YouTube - Ahmadinejad: The FULL Speech to the UN conference 4/4
________
CHRYSLER K PLATFORM (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Chrysler_K_platform)

Actually Einstein have also said such a thing.
http://www.newdemocracyworld.org/Einstein.htm
But yes instead of leaving the room I thought the EU members should have stayed and talked about velayate faghih and Irans religion apartheid,....
Truth is both Israel and Iran are religion apartheid states. AN cleverly bring this up to occupy our mind and distract our attentions from the very serious
problems. Just notice that riots have been less than in khatamis time. Just because of this issue.

Israel is neither apartheid nor a religious state. The only reason Israel is perceived apartheid around the world is because they don't let 1.3 million arab Israelis to serve in IDF, but Israel claims that all their foreign enemies are predominantly arabs and they don't want their citizens to engage in war against their own kin.
I'm not saying who is legit, I'm just stating what is out there.

TBH with you Rasoul jaan, I always considered the fact that Arabs don't have to serve in the Isreali army as an extra right, not a discriminatory issue. They basically have automatic "moafi" and no one in their right mind should be complaining about that.

Isreal, despite all its attoricties against its Arab neighbours (which is often receiprocated and not one way), is a more democratic and free society than Iran IMHO and its arab citizens have a lot more rights than Bahai's and many other groups in Iran. One can not even run in the Iran's presidential elections (despite the fact that "Rahbar" has final say any way), unless you're from a specific clan of a specific race. I don't think anyone from IR has a right to be talking about euqality, freedom and God given rights.

Israel is neither apartheid nor a religious state. The only reason Israel is perceived apartheid around the world is because they don't let 1.3 million arab Israelis to serve in IDF, but Israel claims that all their foreign enemies are predominantly arabs and they don't want their citizens to engage in war against their own kin.
I'm not saying who is legit, I'm just stating what is out there.
I don't know what IDF stands for. I don't like Israel attacks and accupies palestine every time they want. If zionists believe jews are better than
others because they are chosen people they should be some how rasist.
Don't you think?
________
Infant prilosec (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/prilosec/)

I don't know what IDF stands for. I don't like Israel attacks and accupies palestine every time they want. If zionists believe jews are better than
others because they are chosen people they should be some how rasist.
Don't you think?

IDF= Israeli Defense Forces

I don't condone with those atrocities either, as I mentioned which is well known to many members here I support Israel's sovereignty also I want the same for Palestinians, that is the reason behind my support for 2 States solution, but this stance doesn't mean I will turn blind eyes to what Israelis are doing to others, nor I will turn blind eyes to what people in charge of Palestinians are doing.
Also holding "chosen people" against Jewish is neither valid nor fair, almost all religions in some form orthe other claim they are the best in the world and closest to the Almighty, Islam claims that the whole world must be under one flag (similar to KSA flag) and a single Khalifah, they all should be muslims one day other wise they will go to hell and burn indefinitely and occasionally they will receive a half lit firewood from the bottom.

Also I believe claims like "Being chosen people" is a direct insult to the same God they worship. It means God has been involving himself in discriminatory activities.

Bi-Honar;1979]TBH with you Rasoul jaan, I always considered the fact that Arabs don't have to serve in the Isreali army as an extra right, not a discriminatory issue. They basically have automatic "moafi" and no one in their right mind should be complaining about that.
Of course they don't, the only thing is offered to a soldier in war is death. Also I've never seen a mass Arab Israelis protest against this law or mass migration to another State.

Isreal, despite all its attoricties against its Arab neighbours (which is often receiprocated and not one way), is a more democratic and free society than Iran IMHO and its arab citizens have a lot more rights than Bahai's and many other groups in Iran. One can not even run in the Iran's presidential elections (despite the fact that "Rahbar" has final say any way), unless you're from a specific clan of a specific race. I don't think anyone from IR has a right to be talking about euqality, freedom and God given rights.
Beside 1967 war in which Israel felt froggy and jumped the gun first and that was because of massive military buildup in Egypt and Syria aided by Russkis non of the Arab-Israeli wars was initiated by Israel, but as I said atrocities and war crims were committed by both side and I hold Israelis more accountable than her Arab opponents because Israel claims she has been part of civilized and International laws abiding nations. She should do better.
I will tell you an example: No doubt in my mind the summer of 06 war was started by POG, they kidnapped 2 Israeli soldiers and started shelling and casting missile salvo over northern Israeli cities and towns, over million Israelis had to sleep in bunkers, for me that is an act of war.

I saw this in U-tube (I'm sure it is still there) that Israel popped some White Phosphorous charges in one of the southern Lebanon town squares, Geneva convention does not prohibit using WP but it restricts the use only in an open battle field for smoke screen purposes and not as a weapon, G.C explicitly states that W.P should not be used in confined areas with civilians in proximity. You can watch the clip and you will see the charge going off in middle of the town square (confined area) and only civilians running away from it (proximity of civilians), to me that is war crime.
Although many Israeli military personnel are claiming in the Net that it was an accident, This was my response to them:
"Using domestic and International media why did your government refrain from stating that it really was an accident?".
I'm not using this thread as Israel Bashing, I would pick Israel as an Iranian Allie any day over any other nation in the region including the Great Snake (aka Russia) I'm just saying Israel with such an avid military, financial power and International influence must be able to do better than that.

Also I believe claims like "Being chosen people" is a direct insult to the same God they worship. It means God has been involving himself in discriminatory activities.

Brilliant Rasoul jaan, absolutely brilliant. :drinking47:

And I totally agree with you on your other posts. I always feel that the party coming from a position of strength (perceived or otherwise) has more responsibility than the one coming from an inferior position. And your assessment on bing a part of the civilized world and the responsibilities that go with it, is also spot on IMO. As is the notion that Isreal should be Iran's allie and vice versa.

Also I believe claims like "Being chosen people" is a direct insult to the same God they worship. It means God has been involving himself in discriminatory activities.

Well said, I have been raised as a christian and they believe the same thing, the have a weird worshipping of the jewish people. I found that they would hate Palistians without having a real base to Hate them, not even a bad Base and that when I asked they could never give an appropriate answer and why God would have Chosen People, if they proclaimed god loves everyone equilly, Its like everyone is Equal but some are more Equal than others, and that doesnt make any sense how you twiste it. I really dissaprove of the whole join us or you'll go to hell mentallity a lot of religions have. I dont call myself a christian any longer bc of that and a couple of other reasons. I do believe in God/Higher power, but I think there is no such thing as religion and religions most of the times corrupt people that join them, every individual has to find his own truth and find his own way of life he feels closest too, saying christians have the truth or Muslims have the truth or anyone have the truth without accepting that truth may not be the ultimate truth is weak IMO.