U.N. condemns denials of h0Ɩ0cαųst; Iran demurs
Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:56pm
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly condemned on Friday denials of the h0Ɩ0cαųst in a U.S.-drafted resolution responding to a Tehran conference dominated by speakers questioning the extermination of 6 million Jєωs in World War Two.
The measure, co-sponsored by more than 100 countries, including all Western nations as well as Rwanda, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, was approved by consensus, without a vote. Iran disassociated itself from the action, calling the resolution a political exercise Israel would exploit against Palestinians.
But at least 22 nations left their seats empty in the assembly hall, including Bolivia, Chile and Columbia, who were also co-sponsors. Others not attending or sponsoring included Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, and even Cambodia, itself a victim of genocide, U.S. officials said.
The resolution "condemns without any reservation any denial of the h0Ɩ0cαųst" and "urges all member states unreservedly to reject any denial of the h0Ɩ0cαųst as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end."
Iran is not mentioned by name although the resolution is clearly aimed at a Tehran conference convened in December by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Most speakers at that event expressed doubt about the nαzιs' mass extermination of Jєωs.
Ahmadinejad, after coming to power in August 2005, caused an international outcry by terming the h0Ɩ0cαųst a "myth" and calling Israel a "tumor" in the Middle East.
Iran's envoy Hossein Gharibi told the assembly, "In our view there is no justification for genocide of any kind,
nor can there be any justification for the attempt made by some -- particularly by the Israeli regime -- to exploit the past crimes as a pretext to commit new genocide and crimes." Continued...
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