September 15, 2011 -- New York -- AJC praised Britain for its decision not to participate in the Durban III conference. 

The gathering will be held at the UN on September 22nd to mark the tenth anniversary of the first Durban conference. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is slated to speak.

Prime Minister David Cameron explained his country’s decision: 

“No one should be in any doubt that this Government is 100 percent committed to tackling racism both at home and abroad. I have made clear that racism has no place in any civilized society, is a menace to social progress and deeply offensive – so it must be confronted everywhere. But those aims cannot be met by accepting this invitation. Ten years ago, the World Conference on Racism [Durban I] saw open displays of unpleasant and deplorable antisemitism. It would be wrong to commemorate those displays. Indeed, they should be condemned. And that’s why the UK will play no part in this conference.”

Britain becomes the eleventh country – and seventh European Union member – to announce its withdrawal from the gathering.  The others to opt out so far are Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, and the United States.

“Prime Minister Cameron hit the nail on the head,” AJC Executive Director David Harris said.  “A conference originally intended to oppose racism instead became a venue to advance it by the assault on Jews. Britain is to be applauded for taking such a firm stand.” 

“Will other democratic nations follow suit and join the ranks of those who have taken a firm stand against a commemoration unworthy of its name?” Harris added. “We will be waiting, watching and hoping that the assertion of principle will prevail, thus further exposing the Durban process for the sham it’s become over the last decade.”