U.S. Wants a "Successful" World Conference Against Racism

By David Pitts
Washington File Staff Writer

(Currently, all options are on the table)

Washington -- The United States wants to attend the upcoming World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa if a satisfactory conference document can be negotiated, William Wood, the State Department's principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, said July 31.

Testifying before a House International Relations subcommittee, Wood underscored the Bush administration's desire to go to Durban. "Our commitment to a successful World Conference Against Racism if one can be achieved is very high," he remarked. "We want the WCAR to be a success," he added. He also pointed out that the U.S. "has supported the World Conference Against Racism across two administrations."

However, Wood said the conference document draft currently being negotiated in Geneva contains "highly inflammatory" language on the Middle East, particularly equating Zionism with racism, and also "unacceptable" language on the issue of reparations for slavery. "We will not accept the unacceptable," he said, stressing the need for a conference "which will unite and not divide," and which will look forward and not backward.

Consequently, Wood explained that "no final decision on an official delegation," has been made. "All options are on the table." He explained that this is because the conference document is "currently under active negotiation" in Geneva and it is unclear at this point when and whether there will be a resolution of the different points of view.

Under questioning from lawmakers, Wood said "there is no opposition to the WCAR within the administration," but rather to "destructive positions" taken by a number of countries that are reflected in the current draft document. One of the "highest goals" of the administration "is the elimination of racism in all its forms," he noted.

Asked whether the United States' position on the draft document is supported by any other nations, Wood said "I would prefer to avoid characterizing in any detail national positions at this time," since negotiations are ongoing. But he did say that "U.S. opposition to the language is by no means a lone opposition," indicating that some European allies have expressed similar views. He also pointed out that the source of what the administration regards as extreme language in the document "comes from a few delegations."

Steve Wagenseil, director of the office of multilateral affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, said the administration wants "to keep as broad a focus as possible," on the issues confronting the world in the eradication of racism. He characterized some of the language in the current draft document as "extreme" and concentrating on particular forms of racism and intolerance to the exclusion of others.

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican-Florida), chairman of the subcommittee, supported the administration position saying, "The overall U.S. approach for the World Conference Against Racism is forward-looking." She also said the U.S. "seeks an objective and comprehensive evaluation of the current state of racism, discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance worldwide."

But Representative Cynthia McKinney (Democrat-Georgia), the ranking minority member, criticized the Bush administration saying "I must say Madam Chair that I am surprised that President Bush and his administration do not share this view on the importance of the WCAR but instead have publicly adopted an intransigent, if not outwardly hostile, view of the entire conference."

The UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance --- the full official title of the meeting -- will take place in Durban, South Africa from August 31 to September 7.