EU plays down rift as some countries skip UN racism talks

(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission attempted Monday to play down European discontent over a UN-organised racism conference, after some member states boycotted it over fears it will become an anti-Semitism forum.

EU members Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland have pulled out of the meeting being held in Geneva, along with the United States, Israel, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The main bone of contention is a keynote speech to be delivered by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with the EU nations believing that the bloc's "red lines" on stigmatising Israel and defaming religions had been crossed.

"Several member states have decided to withdraw from the review conference. However, a strong majority, which means 23 out of 27, are still engaged in the process in Geneva," said Christiane Hohmann, spokeswoman for EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, "is attending the conference as an observer and in doing so it is our position that the EU red lines... have been preserved," Hohmann added.

The EU spokeswoman admitted that the meeting's text "is not ideal."

"We know that but it is the result of a compromise," she added.

Without mentioning Ahmadinejad, known for his anti-Semitic diatribes, she recognised that "there is a risk that this conference might be hijacked by questions absolutely disconnected with... the theme to fight racism."

Hohmann stressed that the commission would "react appropriately to any unacceptable statement" made at the conference.

Britain and France were to be represented at the meeting by ambassadors.

While France, according to a European diplomat, has already warned that it will walk out if there are unacceptable comments made at the meeting, though there has been no general agreement on this with the other European nations attending.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon opened the five-day conference on racism Monday, saying he was "profoundly disappointed" at the boycotts by some Western countries while all forms of racism persist.

Ban also released a statement condemning those who might deny or minimise the Holocaust, as the conference began in Geneva ahead of the scheduled speech by Ahmadinejad later Monday.