French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin today said France and the European Union would leave the UN conference on racism in Durban, South Africa, if delegates were determined to equate Zionism with racism.
"If the final resolution continues to assimilate Zionism and racism, France and the European Union delegation will consider leaving the conference following consultations with our European partners," the prime minister's spokesman quoted him as saying during a cabinet meeting.
Mr Jean-Jack Queyranne said President Jacques Chirac had also spoken on the issue during the cabinet meeting. He refused to give details of the head of state's comments.
Mr Queyranne said a decision on whether the French and EU delegations would withdraw could be taken within hours.
He said a walkout by both delegations would mark the failure of the conference, deal a blow to the United Nation's standing on the international scene, and hurt relations between Western countries and developing ones.
On Monday, Israel and the United States walked out of the World Conference against Racism over a controversial draft text criticizing Israel for its treatment of Palestinians.
Mr Queyranne said European countries taking part in the summit on Wednesday were working hard on a text that would not contain any of the original harsh language.
Earlier drafts produced by government delegations here included references to "a new kind of apartheid", practised by Israel, accusing it of "a crime against humanity", and mentioning "racist practices of Zionism".
The new text, which has been proposed by host nation South Africa and has not been made public, has withdrawn the originally proposed language accusing Israel of racist practices against the Palestinians.
South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma drew up the new draft, which she is discussing along with delegates from Belgium, on behalf of the European Union, the Arab League, Norway and Namibia.
AFP