Original Source: – HYPERLINK http://www.minbuza.nl/en/news/newsflashes,2009/03/EU-agrees-on-alternative-text-for-anti-racism-conf.html http://www.minbuza.nl/en/news/newsflashes,2009/03/EU-agrees-on-alternative-text-for-anti-racism-conf.html
 
EU agrees on alternative text for anti-racism conference
17 Mar 2009 | At the Netherlands’ initiative, the European Union has proposed an alternative final declaration for the UN Durban Review Conference.
‘Our text no longer gives religion precedence over the rights of the individual, condemns discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and does not permit the use of anti-Semitic language,’ said foreign minister Maxime Verhagen after a meeting on Monday with EU colleagues in Brussels.
The Netherlands is very concerned about the UN conference against racism. ‘Some countries used the previous conference purely as a platform for pursuing their own dubious political agenda. That is unacceptable.’
The Dutch proposal for a new declaration was welcomed by Mr Verhagen’s colleagues, who see it as a viable alternative to the current declaration (which many EU countries find unacceptable). The EU will submit the Netherlands’ text to the organisers of the conference with the request that it be adopted. If the proposal is not supported by other participants, EU member countries may well withdraw from the conference altogether. The US, Canada and Israel have already boycotted it.
The Durban Review Conference, which will be held in April, is a follow-up to the UN anti-racism conference held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. A great many recommendations were made at the conference, with a view to eliminating racism and discrimination worldwide. These recommendations were presented in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Durban Review Conference will be reviewing the progress made in implementing the Programme.

·ðMinisterie van Buitenlandse Zaken 
·ðBezuidenhoutseweg 67 
·ðPostbus 20061 
·ð2500 EB Den Haag 
·ðTel.: 070-3 486 486 
·ðFax: 070-3 484 848 
·ðInternet: http:// www.minbuza.nl