Paris, 9 September 2021

In a meeting of 7 September, the Italian Government has decided to not participate in the forthcoming Durban IV conference, to be held in New York on 22 September.

Originally meant to address the issues of racism and discrimination, the Durban WCAR, since its inception in 2001, has been hijacked by hatemongers worldwide.

Diplomatic sources have relayed that “Italy regrets that this conference may again become the occasion for antisemitic and anti-Israeli propaganda,” as has happened in 2001, and in the following 2009 and 2011 editions, opened by then Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spouting Jew-hatred from the UN podium.

Italy will thus join other democracies in refusing to participate in this conference, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Canada, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Australia, France and Israel... among others.

“This success is due to the parties and NGOs who brought the matter to the attention of the Italian government, including the Wiesenthal Centre,” claimed the Centre’s Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels.

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“My cause was justice, not vengeance. My work is for a better tomorrow and a more secure future for our children and grandchildren.” (Simon Wiesenthal, 1908-2005)