IRELAND: A resolution against anti-Semitism which Ireland recently tabled at the United Nations and then withdrew due to lack of consensus is likely to be resubmitted in the autumn by a coalition of member-states and non-governmental organisations.
This emerged yesterday after a half-hour meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and a senior representative of international Jewish organisations.
The chairman of the World Jewish Congress, Dr Israel Singer, said after the meeting: "I raised the question of the fact that the Irish resolution which was last year raised at the UN will be re-raised by us and we want their support. He said he would support it, that he already had tens of countries supporting it, and that we would try to put it over the top as a stand-alone resolution which would give a kind of clarion call to the world."
Ireland would join others in promoting the resolution. "It is not only going to be at the United Nations, it is going to be at all international organisations, at the EU, OAS, every international grouping."
He had no doubts about the Taoiseach's commitment in this matter: "I have great trust in him and I think that he saw this as a real opportunity to deal with a festering problem in Europe. He doesn't want to be the president of Europe while this problem gets worse, he wants to be one of the presidents that solves the problem."
A British member of the delegation, Ms Flo Kaufmann said, "It was a very warm meeting. The Taoiseach well understands the concerns that we brought to him as the representatives of the European Jewish Congress which represents the Jews of Europe, who are European citizens."
It is understood that the delegation also suggested the holding of a conference of EU member-states at ministerial level to discuss issues such as prejudice and anti-Semitism.
Informed sources said the Taoiseach responded that such a conference might be possible but it was a matter for the European Commission in the first instance. He added that, for practical reasons, a meeting on such a scale could not be arranged within the remaining five months of the Irish presidency.