Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi criticized the "crimes committed by the Zionist regime," saying they are a "vivid example of racism and racial discrimination in the world," reported Iran's News Agency (IRNA).
Kharrazi's remarks came during a speech he delivered at the opening ceremony for the three-day Asian conference on racism that opened in Tehran Monday.
The conference is a preparatory meeting for the biggest world gathering against racism, xenophobia and racial discrimination which will be held on August 31 in Durban, South Africa, said IRNA.
"The martyrdom and suffering of a large number of Palestinians and the homelessness caused to a large number of others is a direct result of their [Israelis] acts of violence," said the minister.
He added that in order to solve the phenomenon, the ground should be prepared for the creation of a global culture that would push for freedom, stability and respect for the wisdom of human beings irrespective of race, religion and color.
"Asian countries, based on their rich cultures, should be able to play an outstanding role in the anti-racist struggle," said the minister.
Attending the meeting was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, who underlined in her speech the need for the global community to focus on strengthening the human rights' awareness of officials in order to help minorities.
"I would encourage all governments to strengthen human rights training of the police, officials of the judiciary and other key public services with which minority members of society come most frequently into contact," Robinson said.
During the meeting, which was attended by representatives from 46 Asian countries, Robinson also referred to what she called the "shocking scale" in human trafficking, said AFP.
Human trafficking and the "forced prostitution of women and children" required "improved regional and global cooperation to stem the tide of these horrible practices," she said.
"No region, no country, no community can fairly claim to be free from racism," Robinson said, stressing that: "Racism affects all of us, and every country and region faces the challenge of combating it," the agency quoted her as saying.
The Tehran meeting, said IRNA, is due to produce a declaration and a plan of action that will be used as a basis for the Durban conference.
Regional meetings have already been organized and held in Warsaw, Strasbourg and Santiago in preparation for the conference, said the agency.
The Durban conference is the third of its kind after two previous ones held in 1978 and 1983 - Albawaba.com
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