“Today’s decision is an action worthy of the new Poland – a re-emergent moral leader that fights for the values of the democratic world,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “We applaud the Polish government for doing the right thing, and refusing to accept a platform for human rights abusers to whitewash their own records while demonizing Israel. Now that four EU nations have walked, we hope that others will follow their laudable example.”

Poland joins Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States in refusing to participate in the conference.

In explaining his country’s decision, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said, “We have reason to believe that the Conference will once again be exploited, as was the case in Durban in 2001, as a forum for unacceptable statements contrary to the spirit of respect for other races and religions.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who yesterday accused “Zionists” of controlling global financial markets, media, and politics, is slated to address the conference this afternoon.

AJC has maintained close relations with Poland over the past two decades, and is represented in Warsaw by Stanislaw Krajewski. AJC meets regularly with Polish leaders, among them Minister Sikorski, to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the United Nations.