PRESS BRIEFING - ‘SIGNIFICANT NARROWING OF DIFFERENCES’ IN LEAD-UP TO DURBAN RACISM CONFERENCE, SAYS UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

‘SIGNIFICANT NARROWING OF DIFFERENCES’ IN LEAD-UP TO DURBAN RACISM CONFERENCE,

SAYS UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Significant progress had been made on the most sensitive issues contained in the draft official documents to be presented to the World Conference Against Racism, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said in Geneva this morning.

Language on indigenous peoples was among the issues decided as the Working Group completed its first reading of the draft Declaration, Mrs. Robinson said at a press conference on the last day of the Preparatory Committee's final session.  The second Working Group had completed its consideration of the main paragraphs under each chapter of the draft Programme of Action, she said.

Mrs. Robinson, who is also the Secretary-General of the meeting, formally known as the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, said that the Chairs of the Working Groups charged with examining the most delicate issues would present their conclusions in the course of this afternoon's plenary.

Mrs. Robinson said she was seeking to offer elements of possible language that could be considered by the Conference, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September.  The general feeling was that there had been significant progress on the terms and language used in the identification and description of the victims of racism and in the language used to evoke the past -- one of the most sensitive issues on the agenda.

"The terminology we eventually adopt will constitute one of the major advances of the Durban Conference and the current session of the Preparatory Committee reflects a change in the atmosphere and the spirit presiding over preparations for the Conference," Mrs. Robinson added.

She said that several delegates from various regional groups had acknowledged that change in the atmosphere, probably because there had been frank discussions, particularly on the Middle East.

Mrs. Robinson said that the Working Group on the Programme of Action sought to include appropriate language on that situation.  "It may be that if appropriate text can be found, this problem can be surmounted, but it is at a very delicate stage in many ways and I do not really want to say any more."  At one stage, particular quarters had brought great resistance to any text, she added.

Responding to questions from correspondents, Mrs. Robinson said she could not be very precise about the Middle East question because discussions were continuing on that "very sensitive area".  But progress had been made, she noted.  "My role as Secretary-General of the World Conference is to seek to create an environment to make progress.  I know that it is particularly difficult in this area.  It is important to now find acceptable text."

Asked how much time there was to get the United States to attend the Conference, Mrs. Robinson said:  "The United States representatives are both here in strength and very engaged."  There had been significant willingness to understand the importance of having some capacity to shift in relation to the Middle East.

"I think what we are now focusing on is how to ensure that the United States, and hopefully led by Secretary of State [Colin] Powell, will be at Durban with all other States," she added.

Mrs. Robinson said she appreciated the extent of United States engagement, which had been significant in leading to important progress on the issue of the past -- a matter of particular concern.

Asked for more specifics on progress in addressing the past, she said:  "I cannot really be totally precise for the very reason that there is not yet a final agreement."  But there had been a very significant narrowing of differences, Mrs. Robinson added.

"The feeling is that there has been considerable progress in regard to language on the identification and description of victims, and also language on how we address the past," she said, describing that issue as one of the most sensitive facing the World Conference.  There was a genuine feeling that the issue would result in one of the real breakthroughs in Durban, she added.

A correspondent asked how the Conference acknowledged the suffering of the Palestinian people and the outrage it had caused in the Arab world without explicitly stating it in its Declaration or its Programme of Action.  What would be the impact on the Conference if the United States felt that there could be no compromise on that issue and decided not to attend?

Mrs. Robinson replied that the focus at the moment was on seeing whether it was possible to find an appropriate text.  It had appeared this morning that the United States was at least willing to look at the text, which was an indication of its engagement in seeking to resolve the situation amicably.

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