Iran president triggers UN conference walkout

Diplomats from a number of European countries walked out of a speech by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, at a UN anti-racism conference in Geneva, 20 April 2009 after he described Israel as a 'racist government'.

The US, Israel, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and New Zealand had all boycotted the conference in protest at the Iran Presidents'appearance, and Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland.

NRC Handelsblad, 20.4.09: Netherlands joins Geneva boycott http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2217613.ece/Netherlands_joins_Geneva_boycott

Polskie Radio, 20.4.09: Poland joins boycott of UN Race Conference http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/foreignaffairs/artykul106582_Poland_joins_boycott_of_UN_Race_Conference.html

ANSA, 17.4.09: UN racism meet boycott still on http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/english.shtml

Spiegel Online International, 20.4.09: Western States Shun UN Racism Conference http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,619945,00.html

BBC News, 20.4.09: Walkout at Iran leader's speech http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8008572.stm

Website: UN: Durban Review Conference, Geneva, 20-24 April 2009 http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/index.shtml

UN: Press Release, 20.4.09: Statement by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the remarks by the President of Iran at the Durban Review Conference http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/coverage/press/pr_20-04-09_iran.shtml

Deutsche Welle, 20.4.09: UN chief disappointed by racism conference boycotts http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4192370,00.html

France24, 20.4.09: EU delegates walk out on Ahmadinejad speech http://www.france24.com/en/20090420-eu-delegates-leave-durban-racism-conference-iran-criticises-israel-ahmadinejad-speech

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