From: "Ismail Zayid" <izayid@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: <min.dfaitmaeci@dfait-maeci.gc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: A-14740-01 IN REPLY TO YOUR E-MAIL OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2001


> Dear Mr. Manley:
>
> I am afraid your reply does not answer my concern.
>
> Israel continues to practice blatant racism against its own Arab citizens,
> as documented by international as well as Israeli human rights groups.
>
> It was our understanding that our country was opposed to racist practices
> and that the Durban conference was to identify racist practices and
condemn
> ALL  perpetrators.
>
>  Does the fact that the UN removed, under US pressure, its resolution
> equating Zionism with racism in 1991 mean that Israel has now, and
forever,
> a carte blanche to indulge in its racist practices?
>
> Yours sincerely
>
> Ismail Zayid, MD
> President, Canada Palestine Association
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <min.dfaitmaeci@dfait-maeci.gc.ca>
> To: <izayid@hfx.eastlink.ca>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 2:05 PM
> Subject: A-14740-01 IN REPLY TO YOUR E-MAIL OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2001
>
>
> > Dr. Ismail Zayid
> > President
> > Canada Palestine Association
> > izayid@hfx.eastlink.ca
> >
> > Dear Dr. Zayid:
> >
> > Thank you for your e-mail of September 2, 2001, concerning the World
> > Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
> > Intolerance (WCAR) held in Durban, South Africa, from August 31 to
> September
> > 8, 2001.  I regret the delay in replying.
> >
> > The objectives of the WCAR were: to review all factors leading to
racism;
> > review progress in the fight against racism; increase awareness of the
> > problem; and recommend new and improved measures to combat racism.
Canada
> > had hoped that the WCAR would lead to a renewed global commitment and
> action
> > plan against racism and racial discrimination.
> >
> > Canada stayed at the Conference in an attempt to ensure that the
> Declaration
> > and Program of Action contained text worthy of global support, and to
> speak
> > out against the elements of text that were inappropriate and
unacceptable.
> > At the closing of the WCAR, Canada believed it was necessary to issue a
> > strong statement of reservation on the Declaration and Program of
Action.
>
> > Our concerns centred on inappropriate references to the Middle East, the
> > failure to include the multiple forms and grounds for discrimination,
and
> > the issue of apology, reparations and compensation for slavery,
> colonialism
> > and the slave trade.  The Canadian delegation registered its strongest
> > objections and dissociated itself integrally from all text in this
> document
> > directly or indirectly relating to the situation in the Middle East. We
> have
> > said, and will continue to say, that any language presented in any forum
> > that does not serve to advance a negotiated peace that will bring
> security,
> > dignity and respect to the people of the region is - and will be -
> > unacceptable to Canada.  A copy of a news release issued in this regard,
> to
> > which Canada's statement of reservation is attached, can be found on our
> Web
> > site at http:/www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca, News Releases and Statements.
> >
> > However, these reservations should not overshadow the positive elements
of
> > the final documents, or the strong role Canada played in influencing
> > progressive strategies for indigenous peoples and in encouraging the
role
> of
> > civil society, especially youth, in combatting racism, in particular
hate
> on
> > the Internet.
> >  The issue of Zionism was excised from the United Nations' books in
1991.
> > It had no place in the work of the WCAR.  Canada strongly maintained its
> > position that any attempt to equate Zionism with racism was
unacceptable.
> >
> > Canada remains committed to fighting discrimination in all of its forms,
> and
> > will continue to channel its international efforts through the United
> > Nations until a global consensus is reached in which Canada could join.
> >
> > Thank you again for writing.
> >
> > Yours very truly,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > John Manley