[Al Arabiya Latest] A United Nations meeting on racism on Tuesday adopted a final declaration against racism, xenophobia and intolerance, a day after an anti-Israel speech by Iran's president triggered a mass walkout.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have taken a momentous decision to adopt the document," president of the meeting, Amos Wako said, describing it as a "historic outcome."
" We couldn't allow our determination and consensus to be destroyed by isolated instances or intolerances and incitement to hatred as we witnessed yesterday "
British Ambassador Peter Gooderham |
Wako, the attorney general of Kenya, added that the move "shows that one can remain constructively engaged and reach a consensus."
Delegates said Ahmadinejad's speech had strengthened delegates' resolve to adopt the declaration as soon as possible, thereby advancing the adoption to Tuesday, rather than as planned on Friday.
"We couldn't allow our determination and consensus to be destroyed by isolated instances or intolerances and incitement to hatred as we witnessed yesterday," British ambassador Peter Gooderham told AFP. |