Ahmadinejad Prompts Durban II Walkout – But Also Gets Applause
Monday, April 20, 2009
By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor
CNSNews.com) – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s provocative attack on Israel prompted a walkout by European Union diplomats at the U.N.’s racism conference opening on Monday, but he drew applause from some participants, and a leading Islamic state’s envoy said the issues raised by the Iranian leader resonate in the Muslim world.
Iranian media noted with satisfaction that while representatives of 23 countries left the chamber in Geneva in protest, the majority had remained.
“Those who remained in the hall expressed support for Ahmadinejad’s ideas all throughout the speech,” the Fars news agency claimed.
Whether or not that assessment is accurate, video footage did show participants who remained seated applaud as Western delegates rose and walked out.
It was not clear whether they were demonstrating support for Ahmadinejad or praising the walkout, but as they did not themselves leave, the assumption was that they were applauding the Iranian leader.
Earlier, as Ahmadinejad walked into the chamber accompanied by aides, he received enthusiastic and sustained applause, and waved in acknowledgement. He was again applauded as he was escorted to the podium to deliver his speech.
Pakistan’s ambassador Zamir Akram – who also speaks for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Geneva – noted afterwards that the majority of delegations had remained in the chamber during Ahmadinejad’s speech.
Speaking to BBC World Service radio, Akram said that the Iranian president “has his own way of expressing things.”
But, he added, “in terms of the substance, there is a resonance in the Muslim world – and I dare say around most of the countries in the world – about concern over the situation in Palestine, and in Iraq or in Afghanistan. And I think he was highlighting that.
“He had a different way of doing it – perhaps my president would not actually do it in that way – but we do have similar sorts of views, concerns on these kind of situations,” Akram said.
Monday’s walkout, described by one British newspaper as “one of the largest public walkouts in diplomatic history,” came on the opening day of the conference known as Durban II, which at least nine Western countries, including the U.S., are boycotting.
Ahmadinejad delivered his address from the podium, standing in front of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, conference president Kenyan attorney-general Amos Wako, and other dignitaries.
As he began with the standard “In the name of ALLAH, the compassionate, the merciful” phrase, protestors in clown headdresses began shouting, but were quickly removed. (The Jewish French students responsible said later they wanted to make the point that the conference was a circus.)
“I call upon all guests to forgive these ignorant people,” Ahmadinejad said of the interruption, then repeated the Islamic introduction, with references to “prophets” from Adam and Noah to Jesus and “his last prophet, Mohammed.”
He then launched into a condemnation of Israel – without bringing himself to using the country’s name – describing the Holocaust as a “pretext” for the establishment of the state of Israel after World War II, and calling its government “most cruel and repressive racist regime.”
Representatives of those E.U. countries not already boycotting the week-long event then began walking out, but Ahmadinejad pressed on. Sitting behind him, Ban looked increasingly uncomfortable, and on occasion he and Wako whispered furiously.
Ahmadinejad said the U.N. Security Council had helped to “stabilize this occupation regime and supported it in the past 60 years, giving them a free hand to continue their crimes. It is all the more regrettable that a number of Western governments, and the United States, have committed themselves to defend those racist perpetrators of genocide, whilst the awakened conscience and free-minded people of the world condemn aggression, brutalities and bombardments of civilians in Gaza.”
He also attacked the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, accusing the U.S. of plundering energy resources and working in the interests of weapons manufacturers. The invasion of Iraq, he said, was “planned by the Zionists and their allies in the then U.S. administration.”
Ahmadinejad told a press briefing later he regretted the walkout and the fact that some nations were not attending.
“The main issue of the conference was racism,” he said. “Are they supporting racism? Why shouldn’t they participate? The United Nations should be the symbol of democracy and freedom of expression. We should not be intolerant of listening to the opinions of others.”
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