Geneva — Another European Union country has had enough of the Durban Review Conference. Following yesterday’s offensive speech by President Ahmadinejad, the Czech Republic announced it was joining the conference boycott because it did not wish to lend legitimacy to the Iranian president’s “anti-Israeli attacks.”
The Czech Republic is the latest state to vote on Durban II with it feet. (Others include Israel, Canada, Italy, the U.S., Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland.) It’s a telling blow to conference proponents, since the Czech Republic currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency.
Ahmadinejad’s speech won no fans in Norway, either. Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Store declared that Iran was making itself “the odd man out.” As the conference goes along, the U.S. decision to boycott is being repeatedly confirmed.