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CNN Saturday Morning News

World Racism Conference Agrees on Some Contentious Issues

Aired September 08, 2001 - 09:16   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, many doubted that it could be done. The delegates at the World Racism Conference appear to have reached an agreement on the most contentious issues before them, slavery and the Middle East conflict.

For the latest developments in South Africa, we're joined now live by CNN's Johannesburg bureau chief, Charlayne Hunter-Gault.

Charlayne, what's the latest there?

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN JOHANNESBURG BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Colleen, those doubts have been raised once again, because earlier today, the South African foreign minister, who's president of this conference, had -- said there was an agreement. But then once the agreement was adopted in the committee where it was announced, the Arab groups began expressing objections, which they wanted to be included in the final document within brackets.

But then there was a ruling that bracketed language could not be included in the final declaration, so the conference has been adjourned for quite a while now as these groups huddle to try to figure out how to get out of this impasse.

The -- Mrs. Zuma has made an emotional appeal to the conference to put aside their differences and to put this issue aside while they work on other issues. But three countries, Syria, Pakistan, and then the United Arab Emirates, have said they want the discussion to go on.

Now, whether or not this can, you know, blow up the conference remains to be seen. Earlier today, there was an agreement on the slavery question. The European Union and others agreed to a formula that will help avoid lawsuits, they believe, which was the concern of the European Union, that allows the document to declare slavery as a crime against humanity.

So that is out of the way. But this most contentious issue, which has been this way from the very beginning, is now posing a serious new threat to this conference, which is in its ninth day. It was supposed to have ended Friday night. It is here in South Africa already late Thursday -- Saturday afternoon, and we have no idea when it's going to wrap up -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Well, and Charlayne, how important is it for them to get this kind of language right, to get it precise? I mean, does this agreement have any sort of binding implications on governments around the world or on the U.S. government?

HUNTER-GAULT: Well, the agreements are reached by consensus, and that consensus means that governments around the world will try and uphold the things that are spelled out in this document, like new efforts to fight racism, new kinds of racism, gender discrimination, and so on.

So for those who have participated, including the nongovernmental organizations, this is a very important moment -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, thanks very much, appreciate it.

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