Though it was created with lofty ideals, the United Nations in practice is too often an embarrassment to its noble goals.
The latest example came last week as the UN commemorated the 10th anniversary of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.
That became know as Durban I. Durban II was in 2009 in Geneva and, last week in New York, the UN convened Durban III “to strengthen political commitment to fight racism.”
Sounds great in theory, but in practice that “strengthening” last week included the contribution of Iran’s foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi who lambasted Canada, the U.S. and others for our support of the “Zionist racist regime”— that would be Israel — and our failure to support the Palestinians who are victims of “state racism” and “apartheid.”
No Canadian diplomats were around to hear this lecture.
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