Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Fair and Balanced Debate

Canada's Conservative government stands on its principles and moral determinism. It was the first country to announce its non-attendance at Durban II for the very good reason that this upcoming event in Geneva is shaping up to reflect the original event in Durban, South Africa as an Arab-Muslim-led majority bloc to defame and isolate one single UN-member country as a human-rights abuser, handily turning reality inside-out.

Canada's perturbation at the actions of its Ambassador to the United Nations who, in his recent role as chairman of a United Nations debate on human rights decided to cut off an NGO representative from presenting a case for "universal condemnation" of anti-Semitism expressed in defamatory anti-Jewish initiatives, most certainly did not reflect the values and views of the government he represents there.

When this came to the attention of Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, it was announced that the matter would be investigated. The result of that investigation has now been revealed. It has resulted in a rare rebuke from the government to its own appointed permanent representative in Geneva, Marius Grinius. It was made abundantly clear to Mr. Grinius that he erred in judgement on this occasion.

Ambassador Grinius, in consultation with a UN procedural official on a point of order, had made the decision to cut off a statement by David Littman, an accredited United Nations NGO activist, in the UN Human Rights Council, on March 6. Mr. Littman had later written to Ambassador Grinius, seeking an explanation, and he is still awaiting that response.

"It is our conclusion that Mr. Littman should not have been cut off by Ambassador Grinius", is the official response now from the office of the Minister. This is in reflection of continual assaults against the reputation of Israel by the 47-member council, heavily weighted in favour of the Arab-Muslim voice, where vicious condemnations of Israel are routine.

While the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference bridles violently at any suggestion that Islamist sharia law might infringe on human rights, and insists that the UN adapt a hate-law against any who might bring Islam to disfavour by questioning its precepts and the various interpretations of the Koran that lead to violent jihad, deeming it to be Islamophobia, it's seen as fair and balanced to defame Israel.

UN-monitoring groups now express the hope that this event will serve as a hopeful sign to other Non-Governmental Organizations - who have experienced their own instances of censure on points of order that reflect a one-sided position and negate attempts at a balanced view of valid points of discussion.

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