Participants at the regional conference on combating racism condemned in its final statement Wednesday in Tehran Israel’s racist acts against the Palestinians in their Intifada, reported the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).
They also called on world countries to declare al-Haram al-Sharif a sacred site for the three major world religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism).
The Tehran meeting was called to prepare for the bigger world Conference Against Racism, Zenophobia and Racial Discrimination, to be held on August 31 to September 7 in Durban, South Africa.
Three previous anti-racism regional gatherings have been held so far in Senegal, Chile and Strasbourg, said the agency.
Participating Asian countries in the Tehran conference expressed their concern against racism, domination of one specific culture over others and the spread of new forms of racism in the world, said IRNA.
The participants, comprising representatives of Asian countries, civil institutions and NGOs, underlined the need for the annihilation of all forms and traces of racism. The conference also stressed the diversity of cultures in various societies as a valuable asset for the development of mankind in general, and called for collective efforts to wipe out racism.
Addressing the opening session of the Asian regional conference on Monday, Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, called for coordinated measures by all countries to confront crimes and racist policies perpetuated by the “Zionist regime”, said IRNA.
The world conference on combating racism which will be held in Durban in autumn, will be the third of its kind after two previous ones held in 1978 and 1983.
