Germany pulls out of Durban III anti-racism conference 
Berlin fears event will be misused for anti-Semitism; spokesman tells 'Post' move expression of Germany's special responsibility to Israel. 

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
02/09/2011 
JERUSALEM POST 
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=236458


  
BERLIN - Germany's foreign ministry announced on Friday that it will not take part in the UN-sponsored anti-racism Durban III conference on September 22, because of the possibility that the event can be turned into a forum for anti-Semitic statements.

In a statement to The Jerusalem Post on Friday, a spokesman wrote, “Germany will not participate in the commemoration event for the 10th year anniversary of the Durban conference.”
He added that Germany “cannot rule out that the Durban commemoration event in New York will be misused for anti-Semitic statements, as was the case in  previous conferences.”

The spokesman continued that “therefore Germany will not participate. This is also an expression of our special responsibility toward Israel.”

Anne Bayefsky begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting,  a human rights scholar and the principal organizer of a counter-Durban III event, told the Post on Friday, “Germany has done absolutely the right thing in pulling out of the UN's Durban III conference, which is a 'commemoration' - a celebration - of UN-based anti-Semitism on a global scale.  Germany, and other European nations which have already pulled out, need to call on the UK and France immediately to stand with them and against Durban's unacceptable perversion of the foundational promise of the UN Charter the equal rights of nations large and small.'

In an e-mail to the Post on Friday, the President of Germany's Central Council of Jews, Dr. Dieter Graumann, wrote that “it was a good and wise decision” that Germany pulled out of Durban III. He said “I am very pleased” about Germany's decision and “the government definitely earns a lot of praise and recognition” for its announcement to skip the event.

“The government showed its true colors and sent a clear signal that should be heard everywhere,” continued Graumann. He termed the conference a “disgrace that should not receive any legitimacy and noted that Germany showed that 'we will not participate in a festival of lies.”'

The head of Germany's 105,000 Jews said that this  “sign of consistency and responsibility earns great respect and hopefully other countries will also hear” this act to boycott Durban III. He stressed that “it is high time” that other countries follow the message about staying away from Durban III.