Obama Boycotts Durban II, Castro Is Surely Disappointed

The State Department confirmed today that the Administration will boycott Durban II -- a U.N. Conference on Racism -- set for April 20th over objectionable language in the meeting's final document that could -- once again -- single out Israel for criticism.
 
The planning committee for Durban II had selected Iran to preside as a Vice-Chair, Libya as Chair of the "Main Committee" running the conference and Cuba as the Rapporteur. 

During the first Durbin conference in 2001, the U.S. delegation walked out, as then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said some of the language in the draft declaration and program of action constituted "a throwback to the days of 'Zionism equals racism."  Powell was referring to a 1975 General Assembly resolution condemning Zionism sponsored by Islamic States and Cuba, repealed in 1991.