Durban, South Africa — Negotiators at the United Nations World Conference against Racism battled on Thursday to reach agreement and a compromise package on the Middle East and slavery, the two most contentious issues which have dominated the proceedings in Durban and threatened to scupper it.
The host nation, South Africa, has been fighting hard to draw up a modified draft declaration on the Middle East dossier, with language on the violence in the region, acceptable to both the Arab nations and the European Union (EU).
Both groups were still studying the document late afternoon, but it appeared that the Europeans were prepared to accept it, while the Arabs looked set to reject it.
The new text removes the wording which branded Israel a racist state and led to a walkout on Monday by the United States and the Jewish nation in protest. The revised document also acknowledges the plight of the Palestinians.
A spokesman for the foreign ministry of Belgium, which currently occupies the presidency of the European Union, told journalists the South Africans draft declaration marked real progress. A French official called it 'acceptable. A spokesman for Arab and Islamic countries said it would be difficult for them to agree to it.
The Palestinians had insisted that, because it considered Israeli treatment of its people both discriminatory and racist, this should be reflected in the final declaration. The original wording condemned Zionism which the Europeans, as well as the Americans and Israelis, said they could not and would not accept.
France threatened to walk out on Wednesday, adding that its 14 EU partners would also pull out if the text was not changed. This would probably have meant the departure of another 13 nations who are standing in line to join the European Union.
Talks which continued well into the night averted a European withdrawal, said officials
So, the onus again fell on the South Africa, which is caught in the middle of a bitter wrangle. The hosts have had to step in as mediators, but have made it clear that this latest document is a take it or leave it text and is not open to further negotiation.
South Africa has also had to act as a buffer between the European Union and the African bloc on the another contenious issue of slavery and reparations.
In separate talks, negotiators reported some progress Thursday on how to acknowledge and address the slave trade. But it appeared there was still deadlock on a possible apology and on labelling slavery a crime against humanity.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The Africans want an explicit sorry to appear in the final declaration. The Europeans were offering a simple expression of regret at the last count. Some African countries are insisting on reparations to match the devastation of the slave trade and colonialism. Others are advocating Western assistance for an African recovery programme, similar to the Marshall Plan which helped reconstruct Western Europe after World War 2.
The World Conference against Racism (WCAR), Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance has been on the brink of collapse since the Americans and Israelis withdrew on Monday. But skilful and painstaking South African diplomacy - including the reported personal intervention of President Thabo Mbeki who returned to Durban late Wednesday - has just about kept the show on the road.
The vitriolic and divisive quarrels, horse-trading and domination of the Middle East question and slavery have eclipsed a conference that was intended to address racism and xenophobia and how to fight the twin evils.
Many other issues, though discussed and agreed, have been squeezed out of the limelight and received virtually no publicity or international media attention.
Many people in Durban are asking themselves whether Africa has not been taken hostage in the process, trapped between its Arab allies and calls to stand firm by the Palestinians, and its European partners, backed by the Americans and the Israelis on the other side of an ever widening gulf. It appears both sides have left little room for negotiation.
