Official Hopeful About U.N. Meeting

The United Nations’ top human rights official expressed hope Friday that differences over an accord on racism had been narrowed enough that the United States would drop its threat to boycott a U.N. racism convention.

“What we are all now focusing on is how to ensure that the United States . . . will be at Durban with all other states,” said Mary Robinson, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.

The World Conference Against Racism opens Aug. 31 in Durban, South Africa.

Negotiators failed to agree on wording of the accord before adjourning Friday, two hours before the midnight deadline. Nevertheless, Robinson said she was encouraged because negotiators had erased some differences over how the accord should address the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The United States has warned that it will not attend the conference unless language it regards as offensive toward Israel is removed from draft statements.

But U.S. officials said a final decision by Washington was not expected before next week.

Israeli Ambassador Yaakov Levy protested Friday evening that “the same shameful language” on the Middle East that was in draft documents when the negotiating session began had not been removed.

“Consequently, Israel will have to reconsider its participation in the Durban conference in the days to come,” Levy said.

U.S. negotiators, who walked out of discussions Thursday evening, also had rejected any direct mention of Palestine. But the announcement Friday that the U.S. appeared “at least willing to look at possible text” on Palestinians’ suffering was “very significant,” Robinson said.