NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish
Committee, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has protested
the scheduled address by the UN General Assembly president at a dinner
Thursday honoring Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"The President of the General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, has
put the credibility of the United Nations into question," wrote AJC
President Richard J. Sideman and Executive Director David A. Harris in
their letter to Ban Ki-moon.
"The presence of the President of the General Assembly at an event in
honor of Mr. Ahmadinejad would make a mockery of you, the United Nations,
and the nations and leaders who have made a point of rejecting Holocaust
denial whenever, wherever, and by whomever it is made."
AJC points out in the letter that Ahmadinejad's blatant Holocaust
denial has been rejected by the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council,
and the General Assembly. Further, the Security Council has joined in
rejecting the Iranian president's threats to eliminate the State of Israel.
While the Thursday dinner has been advertised as a venue to promote
dialogue, "it will serve as a platform through which the UN will help
legitimize Holocaust denial, not to mention the destruction of a member
state," wrote Sideman and Harris.
AJC called on the Secretary-General to "to convey to Mr. D'Escoto the
unacceptability of his participation in his capacity as President of the UN
General Assembly."
The full AJC letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon follows:
September 22, 2008
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Dear Mr. Secretary-General:
The American Jewish Committee was appalled to learn that the President
of the General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, has put the credibility
of the United Nations into question. He has agreed to speak at a dinner in
honor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, a person whose blatant
Holocaust denial has been rejected by you, the Security Council, and the
General Assembly. As recently as last week, Mr. Ahmadinejad, having
previously termed the Holocaust a "fairy tale," denied the Holocaust again,
calling it "fake."
General Assembly Resolution 60/7 "rejects any denial of the Holocaust
as an historical event, either in full or in part." To prevent further acts
of genocide, General Assembly Res. 61/255 specifically calls on states
"unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event."
Your statement that Holocaust denial is "not acceptable" graces the home
page of the UN's Holocaust Remembrance site, together with another
quotation from you: "Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of
any State..." The Security Council has joined in rejecting Mr.
Ahmadinejad's threats to the State of Israel.
Given Mr. Ahmadinejad's repeated statements about the "annihilation"
and eradication of a UN member state, Israel, the claim that this event is
a dialogue for peace cannot be taken seriously. Furthermore, the claim that
this dinner promotes dialogue of any kind is undercut by Mr. Ahmadinejad
himself, who has clearly stated: "We are ready to hold dialogue with all
countries of the world except for the Israeli regime." It will serve as a
platform through which the UN will help legitimize Holocaust denial, not to
mention the destruction of a member state.
Ironically entitled "religious contributions to peace," the invitation
to the dinner at which Miguel D'Escoto is scheduled to speak identifies him
in no other capacity but his role as President of the General Assembly of
the United Nations.
Mr. Secretary General, under your able leadership, the UN has been
clear in its rejection of Holocaust denial. You have reminded states that
the Holocaust is "a unique and undeniable tragedy." Given the clarity and
overwhelming support by you and the nations of the world for these
resolutions, it is obvious that the presence of the President of the
General Assembly at an event in honor of Mr. Ahmadinejad would make a
mockery of you, the United Nations, and the nations and leaders who have
made a point of rejecting Holocaust denial whenever, wherever, and by
whomever it is made.
The General Assembly resolution reminded states that "remembrance is
critical to prevent further acts of genocide." You have indicated that any
attempt to cast doubt on the reality of this unique and undeniable horror
must be firmly resisted by all people of goodwill and of whatever faith.
Mr. Secretary-General, we ask that you put the full weight of your
moral authority as head of the United Nations, and as someone who is
profoundly concerned with its standing in the world, to convey to Mr.
D'Escoto the unacceptability of his participation in his capacity as
President of the UN General Assembly.
This dinner is an inauspicious beginning for the 62nd General Assembly,
and it does not augur well for the prospect of a balanced and just session.
Respectfully,
Richard J. Sideman
David A. Harris
SOURCE American Jewish Committee
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Related links:
http://www.ajc.org
CONTACT:
Kenneth Bandler of the American Jewish
Committee, +1-212-891-6771, bandlerk@ajc.org
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