Participants at the 2009 conference against racism held in Geneva, Switzerland surely knew what they were getting into when they decided to invite Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The wacky president didn't dissapoint and as soon as he took to the stage he made various offensive and inflammatory comments regarding Israel.
During his opening speech at the conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad implied that Palestinian territory had been taken by Israel "under the pretext of Jewish suffering". He stated that "military aggressions" had been used in the aftermath of World War II "to make an entire nation homeless" and that migrants had descended on Palestine from across the world and set up what he described as "a totally racist government".
Ahmadinejad also indicated his belief that this "most cruel and repressive racist regime" was an attempt at compensating for racism which had occurred in Europe.
The response was mixed, with some participants applauding. Within minutes of the speech's opening, delegates from at least thirty countries exited the room to return when he had completed his speech.
Delegates from some countries, including France, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, expressed their dissatisfaction with Ahmadinejad. Peter Gooderham, a British ambassador, described the President's speech as "offensive and inflammatory", insisting such comments had no place at this type of meeting.
France described it as a "hate speech". Andrej Logar, a Slovenian ambassador, said Ahmadinejad's remarks were "detrimental to the dignity of this conference".Ban Ki-Moon was dismayed at the incident, describing the words chosen by the President as being those that are used "to accuse, divide and even incite".
How ironic that such a hate speech was made at a conference aimed at solving the problem of worldwide racism and discrimination.
Even more ironic if one thinks that today is the birthday of one Adolf Hitler.
The wacky president didn't dissapoint and as soon as he took to the stage he made various offensive and inflammatory comments regarding Israel.
During his opening speech at the conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad implied that Palestinian territory had been taken by Israel "under the pretext of Jewish suffering". He stated that "military aggressions" had been used in the aftermath of World War II "to make an entire nation homeless" and that migrants had descended on Palestine from across the world and set up what he described as "a totally racist government".
Ahmadinejad also indicated his belief that this "most cruel and repressive racist regime" was an attempt at compensating for racism which had occurred in Europe.
The response was mixed, with some participants applauding. Within minutes of the speech's opening, delegates from at least thirty countries exited the room to return when he had completed his speech.
Delegates from some countries, including France, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, expressed their dissatisfaction with Ahmadinejad. Peter Gooderham, a British ambassador, described the President's speech as "offensive and inflammatory", insisting such comments had no place at this type of meeting.
France described it as a "hate speech". Andrej Logar, a Slovenian ambassador, said Ahmadinejad's remarks were "detrimental to the dignity of this conference".Ban Ki-Moon was dismayed at the incident, describing the words chosen by the President as being those that are used "to accuse, divide and even incite".
How ironic that such a hate speech was made at a conference aimed at solving the problem of worldwide racism and discrimination.
Even more ironic if one thinks that today is the birthday of one Adolf Hitler.
