Holy See deplores Iran’s remarks at racism conference

(April 21, 2009) The Vatican on Tuesday condemned as “extremist and offensive”, comments made by Iran's president at the United Nations conference on racism in Geneva. The conference was marred at its opening on Monday when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the Holocaust as a “pretext” for aggression against Palestinians, prompting European diplomats to walk out. The Holy See’s office on Tuesday said it “deplores the use of this United Nations forum for the adoption of political positions, of an extremist and offensive nature, against any State.” “This does not contribute to dialogue and it provokes an unacceptable atmosphere of conflict,” said the Vatican statement. “What is needed, instead,” it explained, “is to make good use of this important opportunity to engage in dialogue together, according to the line of action that the Holy See has always adopted, with a view to effectively combating the racism and intolerance that still today affect children, women, those of African descent, migrants, indigenous peoples etc. in every part of the world.” “In consequence, The Holy See, in renewing the Pope’s appeal, reiterates that its own Delegation at the Conference is working in this spirit.”
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday endorsed the conference as an «important initiative» to fight racism. On Monday, Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, told Vatican Radio that the Iranian president expressed “extremist and unacceptable positions." He hoped the conference can still serve this purpose. Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and New Zealand joined the United States in boycotting the Geneva conference which is examining the statement adopted in 2001 at the U.N.'s first conference on racism held in Durban, South Africa. Fr. Lombardi said the vast majority of countries are participating in the conference, and the draft declaration to be approved at its conclusions was “in itself acceptable,” because the objectionable parts were removed.