IN an initiative in which Bulgaria has taken a strong lead, an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference has adopted a declaration opposing all forms of racism, xenophobia and discrimination, and committing member states to steps against these phenomena.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister and Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Solomon Passi opened the conference, which was held on September 13 and 14 in Brussels.
Passi said that Bulgaria, which saved the Jewish community in World War 2 from transportation to Nazi death camps is particularly sensitive towards the problems of discrimination and the lack of tolerance.
Passi expressed the conviction that dialogue between different cultures and partnership is of particular importance in the solution of international problems.
He said that the recent attacks in various locations across the world should not cause a negative attitude to Arabs and Muslims in general.
Passi recalled that when anti-semitism is condemned it should be remembered that Arabs are also a Semitic people.
Passi expressed his firm conviction that reforms in the OSCE should not be put off any longer and that the organisation should adapt to new realities. He also suggested that the conference be dedicated to the victims of terrorist attacks in 2004.
The declaration adopted at the end of the conference condemned, in clear terms, all forms of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, while urging OSCE participating states to respond effectively to acts motivated by intolerance.
The conference was attended by more than 700 government officials, non-governmental organisations and expert speakers, and was the third of three OSCE events on related topics held this year. The first one in Berlin focussed on anti-Semitism while the second, in Paris, was on hate propaganda on the Internet.
"We have come a long way from Vienna, last September, when racism, xenophobia and discrimination were first discussed in this format," Passi said.
"We now have a clear route mapped out. As Prince Philip of Belgium said yesterday (September 13), we need continued dialogue and education, and we need to add tolerance to our agenda. Action is called for and the OSCE is determined to provide a strong lead."
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht said: "This conference has identified concrete measures to combat all forms of racism and xenophobia and has allowed us to send a clear signal to the entire international community. This should be our inspiration.
"Current events show us that condemnation alone is not enough, " he added. "The key theme of this conference was dialogue; dialogue aimed at developing mutual respect and understanding, as well as promoting a fairer society."
In their declaration, participants condemned all organisations and individuals promoting hatred or acts of racism, xenophobia, discrimination or intolerance. They firmly rejected the identification of terrorism and extremism with any religion, culture, ethnic group, nationality or race, and declared unambiguously that international developments or political issues never justify racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
The Brussels declaration also incorporated a decision taken by the OSCE Permanent Council on 29 July, by which the organisation's 55 participating states committed themselves to consider enacting or strengthening legislation that prohibits discrimination; to promote educational programmes to foster tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination; to promote and facilitate an open and transparent interfaith and intercultural dialogue and partnership; and to take steps to combat acts of discrimination and violence against Muslims in the OSCE area.
The states also agreed to act against discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia against migrants and migrant workers, to combat hate crimes and to collect and maintain reliable information and statistics about hate crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance.
The Permanent Council decision also tasked the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to systematically collect and disseminate information throughout the OSCE area on best practices for preventing and responding to racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
- Staff Reporter
Bulgarian Foreign Minister and Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Solomon Passi opened the conference, which was held on September 13 and 14 in Brussels.
Passi said that Bulgaria, which saved the Jewish community in World War 2 from transportation to Nazi death camps is particularly sensitive towards the problems of discrimination and the lack of tolerance.
Passi expressed the conviction that dialogue between different cultures and partnership is of particular importance in the solution of international problems.
He said that the recent attacks in various locations across the world should not cause a negative attitude to Arabs and Muslims in general.
Passi recalled that when anti-semitism is condemned it should be remembered that Arabs are also a Semitic people.
Passi expressed his firm conviction that reforms in the OSCE should not be put off any longer and that the organisation should adapt to new realities. He also suggested that the conference be dedicated to the victims of terrorist attacks in 2004.
The declaration adopted at the end of the conference condemned, in clear terms, all forms of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, while urging OSCE participating states to respond effectively to acts motivated by intolerance.
The conference was attended by more than 700 government officials, non-governmental organisations and expert speakers, and was the third of three OSCE events on related topics held this year. The first one in Berlin focussed on anti-Semitism while the second, in Paris, was on hate propaganda on the Internet.
"We have come a long way from Vienna, last September, when racism, xenophobia and discrimination were first discussed in this format," Passi said.
"We now have a clear route mapped out. As Prince Philip of Belgium said yesterday (September 13), we need continued dialogue and education, and we need to add tolerance to our agenda. Action is called for and the OSCE is determined to provide a strong lead."
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht said: "This conference has identified concrete measures to combat all forms of racism and xenophobia and has allowed us to send a clear signal to the entire international community. This should be our inspiration.
"Current events show us that condemnation alone is not enough, " he added. "The key theme of this conference was dialogue; dialogue aimed at developing mutual respect and understanding, as well as promoting a fairer society."
In their declaration, participants condemned all organisations and individuals promoting hatred or acts of racism, xenophobia, discrimination or intolerance. They firmly rejected the identification of terrorism and extremism with any religion, culture, ethnic group, nationality or race, and declared unambiguously that international developments or political issues never justify racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
The Brussels declaration also incorporated a decision taken by the OSCE Permanent Council on 29 July, by which the organisation's 55 participating states committed themselves to consider enacting or strengthening legislation that prohibits discrimination; to promote educational programmes to foster tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination; to promote and facilitate an open and transparent interfaith and intercultural dialogue and partnership; and to take steps to combat acts of discrimination and violence against Muslims in the OSCE area.
The states also agreed to act against discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia against migrants and migrant workers, to combat hate crimes and to collect and maintain reliable information and statistics about hate crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance.
The Permanent Council decision also tasked the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to systematically collect and disseminate information throughout the OSCE area on best practices for preventing and responding to racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
- Staff Reporter
