Necessity of IRI presence in Geneva conference

By Mojtaba Rahmandoust

There are several reasonswhy IRI must participate at the UN anti-racism conference of Durban II in Geneva.

* ) The title of conference "anti-racism" demanded Iran attend at high levels

* ) Boycott of the conference by some western countries including U.S., Canada, Zionist Regime was encouraging for Iran to participate.

* ) Presence of Iran at high level showed Iran's willingness in confronting discrimination and racism with all capacities and power

* ) Presence of Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a renowned anti-Zionist figure was necessary in order to foil a plot by Zionist regime-affiliated groups to dismiss the conference and remove the name of Israeli occupying regime as racist regime.

* )  Anti-racism and anti-Zionist demonstrations was staged by Iranian NGOs in Geneva city of Switzerland for the first time. It broke the ban over gathering and demonstrations against Israel in Geneva.

* )  The number of participants affiliated to so-called Israeli NGOs in Durban II was more than the number of non Zionist participants. They had planned to prepare the conditions at the conference in favor of U.S. and Zionist regime but Ahmadinejad's presence changed the atmosphere of conference.

*)  Treatment by some people, members of NGOs and some governmental officials of Iran indicates that they were affected by Iran's firm anti-Israeli stance and admired Ahmadinejad's courage. Representatives of Greece and Ireland described their walkout during Ahmadinejad Speech as not willingness and said they didn’t intend to leave the conference but they as members of European Union were forced to do it. Large numbers of Swiss people hailed Ahmadinejad for his brave speech.

* ) Nonattendance or weak presence of Islamic countries further necessitated Iran's presence.

*) Lack of invitation to legitimate Palestinian government of Hamas and instead invitation to Palestinian Authority more encouraged Iran to attend powerfully at the conference.  

Rahmandoust is Secretary General of Society in Defense of Palestinian Nation (SDPN).