General Assembly
Photo: AFP
Israeli envoy Gillerman
Photo: Reuters
UN General Assembly condemns Holocaust denial
Resolution, co-sponsored by 103 member nations, approved by consensus; Iranian envoy says 'resolution an attempt to exploit past crimes as pretext to commit new ones'
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Friday condemning denials of the Holocaust. The resolution, co-sponsored by 103 countries, was approved by consensus, without a vote. Iran disassociated itself from the action, calling the US-drafted resolution a political exercise.
The resolution "condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust" and "urges all member states unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end."
Iran is not mentioned in the resolution by name although the document is clearly aimed at the recent conference in Tehran, which attempted to cast doubts on the veracity of the Holocaust.
Although Iranian envoy Hossein Gharibi did not oppose the resolution, he told the assembly, "In our view there is no justification for genocide of any kind, nor can there be any justification for the attempt made by some -- particularly by the Israeli regime -- to exploit the past crimes as a pretext to commit new genocide and crimes."
In response, Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman said, "While the nations of the world gather here to affirm the historicity of the Holocaust with the intent of never again allowing genocide, a member of this assembly is acquiring the capabilities to carry out its own."
"The president of Iran is in fact saying, 'There really was no Holocaust, but just in case, we shall finish the job.'"
General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed al-Khalifa of Bahrain, told the 192 members that the resolution showed "we must strengthen our resolve to prevent such atrocities, whenever and wherever they might occur."
