By UN Watch ——Bio and Archives--March 11, 2013
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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “This is a dark and mendacious statement the likes of which we thought had passed from the world.” Source White House: “We reject Prime Minister Erdogan’s characterization of Zionism as a crime against humanity, which is offensive and wrong... We encourage people of all faiths, cultures, and ideas to denounce hateful actions and to overcome the differences of our times.” Source UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon: Mr. Erdogan's comment was "not only wrong but contradicts the very principles on which the Alliance of Civilizations is based... The Secretary-General believes is it is unfortunate that such hurtful and divisive comments were uttered at a meeting being held under the theme of responsible leadership." Source US Secretary of State John Kerry: “We not only disagree with it. We found it objectionable.” Source Senior US State Dept. Official: “This was particularly offensive, frankly, to call Zionism a crime against humanity”... The pattern of Turkish denunciations of Israel is having a “corrosive effect” on American-Turkish relations. Full transcript Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger: “This equation is completely unacceptable.” The statement “is diametrically opposed to all that is the Alliance of Civilizations, co-founded by Turkey.” Source German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle: “These remarks are hurtful and unacceptable.” Source Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird: "We deplore them." Source EU Special Envoy Andreas Reinicke: “Not helpful and unacceptable.” Source
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UN Watch is a Geneva-based human rights organization founded in 1993 to monitor UN compliance with the principles of its Charter. It is accredited as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and as an Associate NGO to the UN Department of Public Information (DPI).