La persécution des chrétiens d'Irak est un "crime contre l'humanité"

LE POINT: Le secrétaire général de l'ONU Ban Ki-moon s'alarme des persécutions des chrétiens de Mossoul par les djihadistes de l'État islamique.

Ban Ki-moon, secrétaire général de l'ONU, a affirmé dimanche que la persécution des chrétiens de Mossoul (Irak) par les djihadistes de l'État islamique (EI) pouvait être considérée comme un crime contre l'humanité. Au moment où des centaines de familles chrétiennes fuient Mossoul après un ultimatum de l'EI, Ban Ki-moon a "condamné de la manière le plus ferme possible la persécution systématique des minorités en Irak par l'État islamique et les groupes armés qui lui sont liés". Dans un communiqué de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon se déclare "particulièrement troublé par les informations sur des menaces contre les chrétiens à Mossoul". Ban Ki-moon "réaffirme que les attaques systématiques contre des civils en raison de leur origine ethnique ou de leur appartenance religieuse peuvent constituer un crime contre l'humanité dont les auteurs doivent rendre des comptes", ajoute le communiqué de l'ONU. » | Source AFP | lundi 21 juillet 2014

Ban Ki-moon Condemns Persecution of Gay People in Russia

THE GUARDIAN: Amid criticism of Russia's anti-gay laws, UN secretary-general urges 'speaking out against prejudice' in keynote speech to IOC

The United Nations secretary-general has used a speech ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi to condemn attacks on the LGBT community, amid growing criticism of Russia's so-called "gay propaganda" laws.

Ban Ki-moon, addressing the IOC before Friday's opening ceremony, highlighted the fact that the theme of the UN's human rights day last December was "sport comes out against homophobia".

"Many professional athletes, gay and straight, are speaking out against prejudice. We must all raise our voices against attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people," he said. "We must oppose the arrests, imprisonments and discriminatory restrictions they face."

"The United Nations stands strongly behind our own 'free and equal' campaign, and I look forward to working with the IOC, governments and other partners around the world to build societies of equality and tolerance. Hatred of any kind must have no place in the 21st century." » | Owen Gibson and Shaun Walker | Thursday, February 06, 2014

THE GUARDIAN: Russian laws choking free speech must be repealed now » | The Guardian | Thursday, February 06, 2014

Assad Guilty of Crimes against Humanity, Says UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary-general, has accused Bashar al-Assad of committing crimes against humanity as he said a UN report next week would provide “overwhelming” confirmation that chemical weapons had been used in Syria.

Read the article here | Damien McElroy in Geneva and Alex Spillius | Friday, September 13, 2013

Washington prêt à frapper, Ban Ki-moon appelle à la paix

24 HEURES: Les Etats-Unis sont prêts à mener une frappe contre la Syrie, accusée d'avoir perpétré un massacre aux armes chimiques. Ban Ki-moon a appelé le Conseil de sécurité à «agir pour paix».

Les Etats-Unis sont prêts à frapper la Syrie. Pour préparer le terrain de cette opération armée, Washington a pour la première fois explicitement montré du doigt Damas, le vice-président Joe Biden déclarant que «les responsables de cet usage effroyable d'armes chimiques en Syrie ne font aucun doute: c'est le régime syrien».

«Le président (Barack Obama) pense et je pense que ceux qui utilisent des armes chimiques contre des hommes, des femmes et des enfants sans défense doivent rendre des comptes», a martelé le numéro deux de la Maison Blanche.

Son gouvernement doit rendre publique cette semaine une partie d'un rapport des services de renseignement étayant la responsabilité syrienne. Et la perspective d'une opération militaire s'est faite plus précise.

D'après le secrétaire à la Défense Chuck Hagel, les Etats-Unis ont «positionné des éléments pour être capables de répondre à toute option choisie par le président»: «Nous sommes prêts à y aller».

L'intervention serait limitée à une campagne ponctuelle de quelques jours de tirs de missiles de croisière Tomahawk depuis les quatre destroyers croisant au large de la Syrie, ont affirmé des responsables de l'administration Obama. Toutefois, «le président n'a pas encore pris sa décision» formelle, ont insisté la Maison Blanche et le département d'Etat. » | afp/Newsnet | mercredi 28 août 2013

Syria Resolution Failure 'Disastrous' for UN, Says Ban Ki-moon
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, says the shelling of Homs is a 'grim harbinger of worse to come'. After talks with the Arab League, suggestions of a new observer mission backed by the UN are on the table. Shelling of Homs continued for a sixth consecutive day on Thursday

Read the article here | Julian Borger, Luke Harding, Chris McGreal in Washington, and Peter Walker | Thursday, February 09, 2012

2012 Holocaust Remembrance Day Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Children
United Nations, New York, January 2012 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dedicates his 27 January 2012 Holocaust Remembrance Day message to children. On this day, the world remembers the 1.5 million Jewish children, and tens of thousands of other children who were murdered by the Nazis and their supporters. The best tribute to the memory of these children is an ongoing effort to teach the universal lessons of the Holocaust, so that no such horror is visited upon future generations. The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme is working towards this goal.

The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme »

Abbas a remis à l'ONU une demande de reconnaissance d'un Etat palestinien

LE MONDE: La Palestine a officiellement demandé, vendredi 23 septembre, à devenir le 194eEtat membre des Nations unies. Il était 11 h 46, à New York, (17 h 46 à Paris) quand le président de l'Autorité palestinienne, Mahmoud Abbas, a remis au secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, la demande d'adhésion à part entière d'un Etat de Palestine.

M. Ban doit maintenant transmettre cette demande pour examen au Conseil de sécurité, comme le prévoit la procédure de l'ONU. Il le fera "vers le milieu de l'après-midi" en remettant le document frappé de l'emblème de la Palestine à la mission libanaise, qui assure la présidence tournante du Conseil. La réponse mettra, elle, plusieurs semaines à arriver. » | LEMONDE.FR | Vendredi 23 Septembre 2011

Sporadic Gunfire in Libya
Mar 21 - Gunfire rings out in Benghazi as UN chief Ban Ki-Moon urges an end to violence. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Gaddafi Forces Mass as World Raises Pressure on Libya

REUTERS: Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were massed in the west of the country on Tuesday, residents said, and the United States said it was moving warships and air forces closer to Libya.

Residents feared pro-Gaddafi forces were preparing an attack to regain control of Nalut, about 60 km (38 miles) from the Tunisian border in western Libya, from protesters seeking an end to Gaddafi's rule.

The United States and other foreign governments discussed military options on Monday for dealing with Libya as Gaddafi scoffed at the threat to his government from a popular uprising.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Gaddafi was "disconnected from reality," was "slaughtering his own people" and was unfit to lead.

She said Washington was in talks with its NATO partners and other allies about military options. The United States also said about $30 billion in assets in the United States had been blocked from access by Gaddafi and his family.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said his government would work to prepare for a "no-fly" zone in Libya to protect the people from attacks by Gaddafi's forces.

Gaddafi rejected calls for him to step down and dismissed the strength of the uprising against his 41-year rule that has ended his control over eastern Libya and is closing in on the capital Tripoli.

"All my people love me. They would die to protect me," he told the U.S. ABC network and the BBC on Monday.

He denied using his air force to attack protesters but said planes had bombed military sites and ammunition depots. He also denied there had been demonstrations and said young people were given drugs by al Qaeda and therefore took to the streets. Libyan forces had orders not to fire back at them, he said. >>> Maria Golovnina | Tripoli | Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Libya: UN Chief Calls for Bloodshed to End as Gaddafi Vows to Fight On
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain, France and the United Nations rallied together on Friday in an international push to punish the Gaddafi regime after reports that gunmen had fired into crowds of marching protesters.

Shots were fired at demonstrators marching through the streets of Tripoli in a final push against their leader following Friday prayers.

According to one unconfirmed report by a resident five people were killed in the district of Janzour, where there has been a particularly heavy security presence.

Colonel Gaddafi appeared in Tripoli's Green Square shortly after the attacks pledging to arm civilian supporters and calling on Libyans to get ready to fight for "dignity" and for "petrol".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that the ongoing attacks could amount to "crimes against humanity".

The UN Security Council in New York discussed a number of sanctions proposed by Britain and France including a total arms embargo, freezing of assets and travel bans on government figures. The plan would also see the International Criminal Court begin investigating the Libyan government's attacks on protesters and consider indicting senior figures for crimes against humanity.

British diplomats said they were hopeful that "the usual UN timetable would not prevail". One added: "The urgency of this situation will be brought to bear. Read on and comment >>> Jon Swaine, New York and Bruno Waterfield | Saturday, February 26, 2011

UN Celebrates a 'Watershed Day' for Women
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Global body launched: The fight against rape, female circumcision, child mortality and poor healthcare takes on a higher priority.

Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations: 'UN Women is recognition of a simple truth: equality for women is a basic human right and a social and economic imperative'. Photo: The Independent on Sunday
Some 65 years after it was founded, and after decades of reports on every species of sex discrimination and its wasteful effects, the United Nations has decided to set up a single, powerful body to promote equality for women around the world.

The General Assembly voted unanimously on Friday to launch a new agency called UN Women. It will begin its work in January, have a high-level leader, probably twice the $250m annual budget now allocated to gender issues, and will be tasked with challenging governments on women's plights and rights.

UN Women will press hard for women to have a more widespread and prominent role in politics, and also try to reduce some of the world's more glaring discriminations. These include lack of access to health and education, forced marriages, rape, female cicumcision, and trafficking. Diplomats at the Assembly greeted news of the new body with spontaneous applause as the decision was announced with a rap of its president's gavel. "This is truly a watershed day," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Member states have created a much stronger voice for women and for gender equality at the global level. It will now be much more difficult for the world to ignore the challenges facing women and girls or to fail to take the necessary action." >>> Nina Lakhani and David Randall | Sunday, July 04, 2010

Ban Ki-Moon demande d’enrayer le tabagisme
APS (Agence de Presse Sénégalaise): Dakar – Le secrétaire général des Nations unies Ban Ki-Moon invite les Etats et gouvernements à "enrayer l’épidémie mondiale de tabagisme", soulignant que la consommation de tabac relève d’une "forme de dépendance aussi pénible que meurtrière".


"Je demande instamment à tous les gouvernements de s’attaquer à la menace pour la santé publique que représente la consommation de tabac. Ce n’est ni un signe d’élégance ni un outil d’émancipation. C’est une forme de dépendance aussi pénible que meurtrière", écrit Ban Ki-Moon dans un message redu public à l’occasion de la Journée internationale du tabac célébrée lundi.

Selon Ban Ki-Moon, les gouvernements doivent prendre "des mesures pour protéger les femmes contre toute publicité en faveur du tabac, toute promotion ou tout parrainage, comme le stipule la Convention-cadre de l’OMS sur la lutte antitabac".

Il a noté qu’il "y aurait quelque 200 millions de fumeuses dans le monde. Ce chiffre devrait augmenter, dans la mesure où l’industrie du tabac dépense des sommes considérables pour la publicité qui s’adresse spécifiquement aux femmes et associe l’usage du tabac à la beauté et à la libération", relève-t-il.

"Le tabagisme cause chaque année la mort de plus d’un million et demi de femmes dans le monde. La plupart de ces décès surviennent dans des pays à faible revenu et à revenu intermédiaire. Sans une action concertée, leur nombre pourrait atteindre 2,5 millions d’ici à 2030", écrit encore Ban Ki-moon.

Citant "une récente enquête de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé", le secrétaire général de l’ONU révèle que dans la moitié des 151 pays étudiés, "presque autant de filles que de garçons fumaient".

"Ce résultat est d’autant plus inquiétant, note-t-il, que les jeunes qui fument, ont de grandes chances de continuer à le faire lorsqu’ils deviennent adultes".

Pour lui, "certains faits tendent à montrer que le taux de prévalence du tabagisme parmi les femmes est en train d’augmenter dans certains pays". "Nous devons enrayer l’épidémie mondiale de tabagisme", conclut Ban Ki-moon. [Source: APS] NMS/BK | Lundi 31 Mai 2010

Malawi Frees Jailed Gay Couple
THE GUARDIAN: President pardons pair 'on humanitarian grounds' after meeting UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon

Steven Monjeza (l) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, in court earlier this year. Photograph: The Guardian
A gay couple sentenced to serve 14 years in jail in Malawi have been pardoned after their country's president met Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general.

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were tried and found guilty of sodomy and indecency earlier this month in a move that sparked international condemnation.

But after talking with Ban today, Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, announced the pair would be freed.

"These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws," he said after the meeting, at the southern African country's State House. "However, as the head of state, I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions.

"I have done this on humanitarian grounds, but this does not mean that I support this."

He added: "We don't condone marriages of this nature. It's unheard of in Malawi and it's illegal."

Ban praised the decision, but said: "It is unfortunate that laws criminalise people based on sexuality. Laws that criminalise sexuality should be repealed."

He is due to address Malawi's national assembly later and is expected to ask legislators to look at this.

Although the order was immediate, a prison spokesman told The Associated Press they had not received notification to release the pair by Saturday afternoon.

Earlier this week, a cousin of Chimbalanga, Maxwell Manda, said that he wanted to leave Malawi upon his release.

Joseph Amon from Human Rights Watch said the president was responding to the international outcry following the couple's conviction and sentence.

"I hope that other leaders of African countries with anti-gay laws see that this is just not acceptable in the international community," he said. >>> Amy Fallon | Saturday, May 29, 2010

THE GUARDIAN: My friend, President Mutharika, show compassion: In the spirit of your fight against Aids, free Monjeza and Chimbalanga – an open letter to the president of Malawi >>> Elton John | Saturday, May 29, 2010

Malawi President Pardons Gay Couple After UN Pressure
THE TELEGRAPH: President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi has pardoned a homosexual couple who had been jailed for 14 years.

Mr wa Mutharika had been under international pressure to reconsider the convictions of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20. They were arrested in December after they were united in a traditional wedding ceremony in the conservative southern African country, where homosexuality is illegal.

Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General, met the Malawian president on Saturday in the capital Lilongwe.

Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr wa Mutharika said: "These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws.

"However, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions." >>> | Saturday, May 29, 2010

Related articles and videos here

UN Averts Climate Collapse by 'Noting' New Deal
THE INDEPENDENT: UN climate talks avoided a total collapse today by skirting bitter opposition from several nations to a deal championed by the US President Barack Obama and five emerging economies including China.

"Finally we sealed a deal," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. "The 'Copenhagen Accord' may not be everything everyone had hoped for, but this decision...is an important beginning."

But a decision at marathon 193-nation talks merely took note of the new accord, a non-binding deal for combating global warming led by the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. >>> David Fogarty and Alister Doyle, Reuters | Saturday, December 19, 2009

Kadhafi veut humilier la Suisse à l’ONU
LE TEMPS: Rayer la Suisse de la carte et répartir ses régions linguistiques entre ses voisins: le président libyen envisage d’intervenir aux Nations unies avec cette requête absurde. Une lettre, restée sans réponse, a été envoyée à Ban Ki-moon

Il a osé. Mouammar Kadhafi a bien déposé une requête pour ­«démanteler la Suisse» auprès des Nations unies. Les menaces, il les avait déjà proférées en juillet, lors du G8 à L’Aquila (Italie). Là, le colonel a fait un pas de plus. C’est ce qu’a affirmé haut et fort Christa Markwalder (PLR/BE), vice-présidente de la Commission de politique extérieure du National, mercredi soir à l’émission 10 vor 10. En soulignant que la diplomatie suisse va devoir retrousser ses manches pour éviter un scandale. >>> Valérie de Graffenried | Vendredi 04 Septembre 2009

Ban Ki Moon weist Ahmadinejad zurecht: Eklat bei der Anti-Rassismus-Konferenz in Genf – Auszug unter Protest
NZZ Online: Mit antiisraelischen Äusserungen hat der iranische Präsident Ahmadinejad für einen Eklat bei der Eröffnung der Anti-Rassismus-Konferenz in Genf gesorgt. Israel sei das «grausamste und rassistischste Regime», erklärte er. Uno-Generalsekretär Ban Ki Moon wies daraufhin in ungewöhnlich scharfer Form zurecht.

Uno-Generalsekretär Ban Ki Moon hat in ungewöhnlich scharfer Form die Rede des iranischen Präsidenten Mahmud Ahmadinejad auf der Uno-Konferenz gegen Rassismus kritisiert. «Ich verurteile, dass der iranische Präsident diese Plattform dazu genutzt hat, Schuldzuweisungen zu machen, zu spalten und aufzuhetzen», sagte Ban in Genf. «Es ist zutiefst bedauerlich, dass mein Appell, sich der Zukunft der Einheit zuzuwenden, nicht beachtet wurde.» >>> ap | Montag, 20. April 2009

Britain and EU Diplomats Walk Out as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Calls Israel 'Racist'
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain and other European Union countries have walked out of a United Nations conference after Iran's president attacked Israel as the "most cruel and racist regime".

A protester with a wig is led away by UN security as he tried to interrupt the speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, at the UN Racism conference. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad smiled as European diplomats left in protest over his opening address to a controversial UN summit to fight racism.

President Ahmadinejad, speaking as Israelis prepares to commemorate the Holocaust on Tuesday, described Jews and Israel's creation as the "ugly face" of a Western conspiracy.

"They sent migrants from Europe, the United States in order to establish a racist government in the occupied Palestine," he said.

"The word Zionism personifies racism that falsely resorts to religion and abuses religious sentiments to hide their hatred and ugly faces."

EU diplomats launched a walk out when Mr Ahmadinejad claimed that the "pretext of Jewish suffering", a reference to the Holocaust, had been used to create Israel.

The United States, Israel, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand boycotted the conference because of fears that Mr Ahmadinejad would use the event to equate Zionism with racism.

British and other EU officials had attended the conference but walked out after Iran's leader launched into an attack on Western support Israel's "totally racist" policy in Gaza. >>> By Bruno Waterfield | Monday, April 20, 2009

TELEGRAPH BLOGS – Nile Gardiner: Durban II: Gordon Brown's Cowardly Decision Not to Boycott

It is rare when continental European partners such as Germany show a bit of backbone on the world stage. This weekend, Angela Merkel joined the leaders of the United States, Israel, Australia, Italy and Holland in boycotting the Durban Review Conference in Geneva. In contrast, Gordon Brown's government has decided to participate, even though the event is being graced by the presence of Iranian despot Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who believes in wiping a fellow UN member off the face of the earth. The whole farce is organized by a steering committee led by major human rights violators such as Libya, Russia, Cuba and Iran. Comment here >>> Nile Gardiner | Monday, April 20, 2009


BBC: Walkout at Iran Leader's Speech

Diplomats have walked out of a speech by the Iranian president at a UN anti-racism conference after he described Israel as a "racist government".

Two protesters, wearing coloured wigs, disrupted the beginning of the speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - followed by the Western walkout.

Others enthusiastically clapped as Mr Ahmadinejad continued his address.

France said it was a "hate speech". A number of other Western countries have boycotted the conference altogether.

The walkout is a public relations disaster for the United Nations, which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best - uniting to combat injustice in the world, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. >>> | Monday, April 20, 2009

Watch BBC video: Diplomats walk out of the summit and protesters heckle Iran's leader >>>
BBC:
In Quotes: Ahmadinejad Speech >>> | Monday, April 20, 2009

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Iran's President Slams Israel, Prompts Walkouts

GENEVA -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the Holocaust as a "pretext" for aggression against Palestinians, prompting European diplomats to walk out of a speech disrupted by jeering protesters in rainbow wigs tossing red clown noses at the hardline leader.

Mr. Ahmadinejad was the first government official to take the floor at a U.N. racism conference opening on the eve of Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day. Two protesters in clown costumes tossed soft red objects at Mr. Ahmadinejad as he recited a Muslim prayer to begin his speech.

A Jewish student group from France later took credit for causing the disturbance, saying members threw clown noses to "symbolize the mascarade that this conference represents."

Mr. Ahmadinejad restarted his talk and delivered a speech that lasted more than a half-hour, saying the United States and Europe had helped establish Israel after World War II and victimize Palestinians "under the pretext of Jewish suffering."

That prompted a walkout by some 40 diplomats from Britain and France and other European countries that had threatened to leave the conference if it descended into anti-Semitism or other rhetoric harshly critical of Israel, which marred the U.N.'s last racism gathering eight years ago in South Africa.

The United States and eight other Western countries were already boycotting the event because of concerns about its fairness.
Mr. Ahmadinejad went on to accuse Israel of being the "most cruel and racist regime." >>> Associated Press | Monday, April 20, 2009

WELT ONLINE: Antirassismus-Konferenz: Der erwartete Eklat des Mahmud Ahmadinedschad

Der erste Tag der Antirassismus-Konferenz in Genf hat im Schatten mehrerer Boykotts begonnen – und ist im Eklat geendet. Als Irans Präsident Ahmadinedschad seine Rede für anti-israelische Tiraden nutzte, verließen mehrere EU-Delegierte den Raum. Die Verstimmungen gehen jedoch weit über Europa hinaus.

Wahrscheinlich hätten die Tänzer die Stimmung bessern sollen. Die südafrikanische Regierung, 2001 Gastgeberin der ersten Antirassismus-Konferenz in Durban, hatte sie nach Genf geschickt: Frauen in Saris, Männer mit Buschkronen aus Glasperlen. Sie hüpften und klatschten vor dem Podium, auf dem Ban Ki-moon saß. Doch mehr als ein müdes Lächeln konnten die Spezialisten für „interkulturelle Tanzfusion“ dem UN-Generalsekretär nicht abringen.

Die „Durban II“ genannte Konferenz begann heute im Schatten des Boykotts durch mehrere westliche Staaten – und sie endete im Eklat um die Rede des iranischen Staatspräsidenten Mahmud Ahmadinedschad. Neben Ländern wie Israel, Kanada oder den USA blieb erstmals auch Deutschland einer UN-Konferenz fern.

Ban Ki-moon kritisierte das in seiner Eröffnungsrede. „Ich bedauere zutiefst, dass einige sich entschlossen haben, beiseite zu treten“, sagte der UN-Generalsekretär. „Wir träumen davon, in eine neue Richtung zu gehen, jedoch bleiben zu viele von uns in der Vergangenheit verstrickt. Wir sprechen davon, eine neue Einheit zu finden, wie es die Zeit verlangt, aber wir bleiben schwach und gespalten.“ Gerade in Zeiten der Wirtschaftskrise, sei es wichtig gegen Rassismus zu kämpfen – in all seinen Formen, auch Antisemitismus und Islamophobie. Ahmadinedschads Eklat >>> Von Stefanie Bolzen und Elisalex Henckel | Montag, 20. April 2009

DIEPRESSE: Eklat von Ahmadinejad bei Rassismuskonferenz

Bei der Rede des iranischen Präsidenten verließen die Vertreter aller EU-Staaten, so auch Österreichs, den Saal. Ahmadinejad nützte den Auftritt in Genf erneut für seine berüchtigten antiisraelischen Tiraden.

WIEN/GENF. „Ich bin zutiefst enttäuscht.“ Diese bitteren Worte packte UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon in seine Eröffnungsrede vor der Antirassismuskonferenz in Genf. Grund für die Klage: Eine Reihe wichtiger Staaten boykottiert das UN-Treffen, das bis Freitag dauern soll. Kanada und Israel hatten schon vor Längerem klargestellt, keinesfalls teilzunehmen. Und bis Montagmorgen sagten dann auch die USA, Australien, die Niederlande, Italien, Polen und Deutschland ab.

Diese Länder fürchten, die UN-Antirassismuskonferenz könne wie schon 2001 im südafrikanischen Durban in ein antiisraelisches Spektakel abgleiten. Damals wollten eine Reihe arabischer und islamischen Staaten die Gleichsetzung von Zionismus mit Rassismus durchsetzen. Die USA und Israel verließen das Treffen.

Österreich nimmt an der Nachfolgekonferenz in Genf teil – jedoch so wie Frankreich, Großbritannien und andere EU-Staaten nur auf Beamtenebene. Es wird durch Österreichs Botschafter in Genf, Christian Strohal, vertreten sein. Für den Fall, dass die Konferenz kippen sollte, behalte man sich „entsprechende Schritte“ vor, heißt es aus dem Außenministerium auf Anfrage der „Presse“. Diese Schritte würden in Abstimmung mit den anderen teilnehmenden EU-Staaten gesetzt. >>> Wieland Schneider (Die Presse) | Montag, 20. April 2009

LE FIGARO: Nouvelle provocation d'Ahmadinejad à Genève

Le président iranien a déclaré que le gouvernement israélien était raciste, devant la conférence de l'ONU consacrée au sujet, provoquant le départ des diplomates européens et la condamnation de Ban-Ki-Moon.

Des diplomates quittant la salle, des manifestants avec des perruques multicolores et des nez rouge de clown qui crient «raciste, raciste» (voir la vidéo), les sièges désertés des Etats-Unis, de l'Australie et des autres pays qui ont boycotté le sommet ... Lundi, l'intervention de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad devant la conférence de l'ONU sur le racisme qui s'est ouverte le jour même aura été mouvementée. Toute cette agitation n'aura pas empêché le président iranien d'accuser Israël d'être le «régime le plus cruel et le plus raciste».Il a critiqué la création de l'État hébreu après 1945. «Après la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, ils (les Alliés, ndlr) ont eu recours à l'agression militaire pour priver de terres une nation entière sous le prétexte de la souffrance juive», a expliqué Ahmadinejad devant un parterre de diplomates. «Ils ont envoyé des migrants d'Europe, des Etats-Unis et du monde de l'Holocauste pour établir un gouvernement raciste en Palestine occupée», a-t-il affirmé. >>> Jérôme Bouin (lefigaro.fr) Avec AFP et AP | Lundi 20 Avril 2009

L’EXPRESS.fr: La France s'indigne du discours d'Ahmadinejad

Dans son discours à la conférence contre le racisme "Durban II", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s'en est violemment pris à l'Etat d'Israël. La délégation française, qui avait pourtat mis en garde le président iranien, a quitté la salle et Nicolas Sarkozy condamne "ce discours de haine"..

Le discours prononcé par le président iranien constitue "un appel intolérable à la haine raciste" et "il bafoue les idéaux et les valeurs inscrites dans la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'Homme", a déclaré le président Nicolas Sarkozy dans un communiqué.

Le chef de l'Etat, "qui avait déjà rejeté des propos inacceptables tenus en d'autres circonstances par le président iranien, condamne totalement ce discours de haine, poursuit le texte. [M. Sarkozy] appelle à une réaction d'une extrême fermeté de l'Union européenne".

Bernard Kouchner a affirmé de son côté qu'"aucun compromis n'est possible" face aux déclarations anti-israéliennes du président iranien. Ce dernier a critiqué la création d'Israël après 1945, l'assimilant à un "gouvernement raciste", lors de son discours lundi devant les participants à la Conférence de l'ONU sur le racisme à Genève.

"J'ai indiqué très clairement que la France ne tolèrerait pas que quiconque prenne la Conférence en otage et s'en serve comme d'une tribune pour tenir des propos haineux, a souligné le ministre des Affaires étrangères. Je souhaite que ce geste de protestation suscite une prise de conscience au sein de la communauté internationale: la protection des droits de l'Homme et la lutte contre toutes les formes de racisme sont trop importantes pour que les nations ne s'unissent pas contre tous les discours de haine, contre tous les dévoiements". >>> Par LEXPRESS.fr | Lundi 20 Avril 2009

Hollywood Movies to Be Used to Foster ‘Inter-Cultural Understanding’
ARAB NEWS: IN the wake of the 2004 Madrid train bombings, Spain and Turkey founded The Alliance of Civilizations, an organization designed to foster dialogue between cultures and religions and, quite clearly, to head off any anti-Islamic furor triggered by the bombings. In the event the Spanish were commendably measured in their response to the carnage that had been visited on their capital. The Alliance, however, came to be criticized as being merely a talking shop.

This week this changed when, at a two-day meeting in Madrid, 350 delegates from 63 countries, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, agreed to set up a UN-backed $100-million fund to finance films which, while being entertaining, are also designed to foster understanding and peace between cultures. Unveiling the initiative, Queen Noor of Jordan said that an initial $10 million of financing was in place. It was also revealed that partnerships had already been established with Hollywood production and distribution companies. At the same meeting another project — the Rapid Response Media Mechanism — was launched which is meant to reduce tension in times of cross-cultural crises by, according to Ban, furnishing “voices of reason to reporters and producers around the world.” Editorial: Alliance not clash >>>

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)

Ban Ki-moon “Shocked and Dismayed” by Ahmadinejad’s Comments About Israel

Photo of Ban Ki-moon courtesy of Google Images

”The hegemony of Israel had collapsed, and the Lebanese nation pushed the button to begin counting the days until the destruction of the Zionist regime” - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

BBC: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he was "shocked and dismayed" at recent comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about Israel.

Iran's official news agency reported Mr Ahmadinejad saying that the world would soon see Israel's destruction.

He said the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 showed for the first time Israel's weakness.

The Iranian leader is a trenchant critic of Israel and has said the Holocaust of European Jewry is a myth. UN condemns Ahmadinejad comments (more)

Mark Alexander