Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

U.S. to Send Low Level Envoy to Racism Conference

Aired August 30, 2001 - 09:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The word "racism" often provokes controversy, so it comes as no surprise that a world conference against racism is at the center of a controversy.

The United States is not sending a high-level delegation to the meeting which is taking place in South Africa.

Our Johannesburg bureau chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault looks at the goal of the gathering and the contentious issues surrounding it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The unofficial delegation, made up of victims of color, caste and gender discrimination, of xenophobia and lost homelands, descendants of slaves and colonized people, meeting days ahead of the official conference that will bring representatives of governments from all over the world together.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, you must give a voice to victims. We must break the silence of those who have suffered.

HUNTER-GAULT: It was a welcome that belied the conflict that has dogged preparations for the conference approved by the United Nations General Assembly four years ago. Two issues in particular linger as diplomatic time bombs and caused Israel and the United States to threaten a boycott.

Equating Zionism with racism didn't make it to the official agenda, but efforts by Arab states to put it there was enough to downgrade the U.S. delegation once set to be led by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Likewise, the issue of reparations for slavery and colonialism met the same condemnation from the U.S. and other western powers. But unofficial delegates are pressing the demand, arguing that slavery was a crime against humanity never resolved.

Conference sources told CNN that the United States will send a delegation led by an assistant secretary. But widespread criticism of the U.S. continued from both African government officials and others.

ADJOA AIYETORO, U.S. REPARATIONS ACTIVIST: It's quite ironic, and maybe even not ironic, that the United States will continue to be in denial about the need for them to be at the table with the top- level delegations to address racism and the continuing racism that exists in this -- in the United States itself.

HUNTER-GAULT (on camera): Despite this and other unresolved issues, U.N. officials remain upbeat that this conference will be able to overcome the rancor and produce a declaration and a plan of action that recognizes the damage caused by past expressions of racism and modern forms of racism and xenophobia. They hope to do that in a week starting Friday.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CNN, Durban, South Africa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com