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American Morning

Racism Conference Causing Serious Division

Aired September 04, 2001 - 10:28   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, it seems like those in Northern Ireland and other incidents around the world have been getting a lot of attention. At the World Conference On Racism, officials are taking a closer look at the kinds of issues like these that divide people all over the globe. To show you how divisive those issues are, some of them have even sparked divisions and arguments among those who are attending the conference.

CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault joins us now live from Durban, South Africa. She has more -- hello,

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon.

This conference is on a nice edge over a non-governmental orgranization's document that refers to Israel as an apartheid state and accuses it of genocide. The U.N. secretary general for this conference was supposed to receive the document today. It has no official standing but normally it complements the government document.

Mary Robinson had this to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARY ROBINSON, U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER: I have already expressed personal dismay and sadness that language was used in it, language of accusing of genocide, completely inappropriate to this world conference. And my sadness is that for the first time as high commissioner for human rights, I cannot recommend the NGO declaration to delegates. Normally I say look, delegates listen to the civil society, listen to what they're saying.

I'm glad that some of the international NGOs here have pointed out there are very good things in that document. But I personally as secretary general cannot recommend it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTER-GAULT: Now, some of the NGOs have been demonstrating and protesting against the U.S. pullout, arguing that the officials should have stayed here and fought their fight right until the very end. But Mary Robinson says that it is her understanding that while the assistant secretary of state who was leading the official delegation has left, that he has left in place someone to represent the United States. Now, there are many delegates hoping that because this isn't the only issue on the table here. Right now, the reparations for slavery issue, slavery and colonialism, is being discussed. So we'll have to see what happens next. But right now the United Nations officials like Mrs. Robinson are trying to salvage their conference -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Charlayne, in the process of trying to salvage this conference, will there be anything concrete produced by this conference now or is it too far gone?

HUNTER-GAULT: Well, the South African government officials have begun a new draft aimed at eliminating language that Israel or anyone supporting Israel would regard as offensive or hostile to that particular state. We hope to have some of that language before the day is over. And the South African government officials told CNN that they are confident that they will be able to produce a document that will bring the kind of consensus that will lead to a plan of action, because this conference really is about attacking racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances, and they don't want people to forget it in the controversy over this Arab-Israeli issue -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thank you very much, Charlayne Hunter-Gault covering that conference for us in Durban, South Africa. We'll keep our eyes on that.

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