Africa: Racism Conference finally ends in Durban after last minute hitch

8 September 2001
allAfrica.com
By Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

Durban, South Africa — The UN World Conference against Racism (WCAR) has finally ended at 18h15 local time (16h15 GMT) a day after it was due to finish and hours after the extended period for further negotiations and debate on Saturday.

The proceedings were brought to a close by the south African foreign minsiter, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who was also the chairman of the racism conference.

Her voice hoarse from days of mediating and lack of sleep, the minister managed a smile and thank yous in at least a dozen languages as she declared the conference closed.

A last-minute hitch held up the final declaration. It involved Arab states who were reported to be demanding changes to two paragraphs referring to Israel in the Middle East resolution.

Earlier, the two issues that had dominated the conference and become major obstacles to progress - the Middle East and the legacy of slavery - appeared to have been settled, with agreement on all sides, if not satisfaction with the draft documents.

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