CANADA WILL NOT ATTEND UN WORLD CONFERENCE ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000123 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA LAURA JORDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL CA SUBJECT: CANADA WILL NOT ATTEND UN WORLD CONFERENCE ON RACISM ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Canada took a firm stance against the UN World Conference Against Racism on January 23 when it announced it would not attend the 2009 Durban Review Conference (Durban II). Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier stated that the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism "degenerated into open and divisive expressions of intolerance and anti-Semitism that undermined the principles of the United Nations and the very goals the conference sought to achieve." He said the Canadian government had concluded that the preparatory process for Durban II would not "remedy the mistakes of the past." Bernier emphasized that Canada has a "long and proud history of fighting racism, discrimination and intolerance in all its forms." A number of media outlets and Jewish groups applauded the announcement, while some NGOs and the New Democratic Party spoken out against the decision. The Canadian government's sharp criticism of the 2001 conference and early announcement that it will not attend Durban II once again show that the Harper government is not afraid to take a stand in the international arena. End summary. GOVERNMENT TAKES A STAND AGAINST DURBAN -------------- ¶2. (U) Minister Bernier issued an official statement on January 23 stating that Canada would not participate in Durban II, as he and Secretary of State Kenney had determined that the preparatory process for the conference would not "remedy the mistakes of the past." Bernier noted that the 2001 conference "degenerated into open and divisive expressions of intolerance and anti-Semitism that undermined the principles of the United Nations and the very goals the conference sought to achieve." Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity Jason Kenney emphasized that Canada would continue to focus "on genuine anti-racism initiatives that make a difference" and noted that Canada's commitment to fighting racism is evidenced by the fact that it is seeking full membership on the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. ¶3. (U) In remarks to the media, Kenney was even stronger in his criticism of the Durban conference. Kenney stated that Durban II "has gone completely off the rails," and said that "Canada is interested in combating racism, not promoting it." He remarked that the 2001 World Conference Against Racism turned into a "circus of intolerance" and said that Canada would attend "any conference that is opposed to racism and intolerance, not those that actually promote racism and intolerance." Noting that Iran was named to the organizing committee, Kenney commented, "This is a country whose government has publicly expressed its desire to eliminate the only Jewish country in the world." NEWSPAPERS AND JEWISH GROUPS SUPPORT DECISION... -------------- --- ¶4. (U) Canada's announcement that it was pulling out of Durban II received a fair amount of press coverage, with most analyses supporting the decision. An Ottawa Citizen editorial said the Canadian government "showed real courage" by pulling out of the conference, and commented that this decision "demonstrated the kind of clear moral leadership the Conservatives promised to show when they were elected in 2006." A Toronto Star op-ed expressed a similar opinion, commenting that, "If Durban II is going to again bury all other racism issues under the debris of the Middle East Qother racism issues under the debris of the Middle East conflict, then it's better to bury Durban itself." B'nai Brith Canada and the Canadian Jewish Congress also spoke in support of the Canadian government's announcement. B'nai Brith Canada's executive vice president stated that Canadians have long called on their government to behave honorably, and "today, the Government has again answered that call..." ...WHILE SOME NGOS AND ONE POLITICAL PARTY OPPOSE IT -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) Some NGOs and one political party, however, have criticized the government's decision. The executive director of the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada told PolOff that her organization was "shocked" by the announcement since the government had not consulted them or other NGOs. She said that walking away from the table was not the answer, and noted that she would be sharing this view with media representatives in the coming days. New Democratic Party MP Bill Siksay said that Canada should be at the table in Durban if only to bring a different perspective. OTTAWA 00000123 002 OF 002 COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Canada's conservative government has once again shown that Canada is not afraid to take a strong stance on moral issues, even if it goes against the international community. As additional evidence of this, we understand that Canada was the sole "no" vote on the January 24 UN Human Rights Council resolution condemning recent Israeli actions in Gaza. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS