[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE BOYCOTTING OF DURBAN II

  (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ENGEL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  Just the other day, the United Nations, shamefully, had a so-called 
``conference'' on racism, dubbed Durban II, held in Geneva. The United 
States boycotted this charade, rightfully so, and I want to commend 
President Obama for making the decision to boycott because Durban I 
turned into a tirade of racism against Israel, of racism against the 
Jewish people, anti-Semitism, and we knew that so-called ``Durban II'' 
would be the same. Sure enough, it was.
  When that lunatic, the President of Iran, Ahmadinejad, got up and 
made hateful speeches against Jews, against Israel, anti-Semitic 
speeches, it really made a mockery of this whole so-called ``Durban 
II.'' This conference was supposed to attack racism, not deal and aid 
and abet racism. Ahmadinejad, shamefully, was the only President of any 
country to address this charade.
  The United Nations, unfortunately, only discredits itself when it has 
conferences like this, and I'm glad. It was the right thing to do that 
the United States boycotted. As for the European nations, many walked 
out in disgust, and that was also good because that showed that racism, 
anti-Semitism and beating up on Israel was not going to be tolerated.
  I commend the President, and I am glad the United States stood tall.

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