April 19, 2009 – New York – AJC today wrote to Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, praising the Netherland’s principled decision to withdraw from the Durban Review Conference, which opens at the UN in Geneva tomorrow.

The full text of the letter to Foreign Minister Verhagen from AJC President Richard J. Sideman and Executive Director David A. Harris follows:

Dear Minister Verhagen:

We write on behalf of the American Jewish Committee to express our admiration for the Netherlands' principled decision to withdraw from the Durban Review Conference.

Throughout the Durban preparatory process, you have been steadfast in your view that the Netherlands will not accept the unjustified singling out of any country, and will not allow democratic values to be trampled upon in service of a particular political agenda. Today, you courageously acted upon these commitments.

We regret that the international community did not come together behind the statement of common resolve to fight discrimination that your country admirably proposed. Despite your best efforts, the struggle for mutual respect and human rights – to which we share your deep commitment – has tragically been derailed by those who wish to subvert it.

We hope that many of your European partners will now join the Netherlands and Italy in withdrawing from the conference.

With admiration for your leadership, and gratitude for your friendship, we remain,

Respectfully,

Richard J. Sideman

David A. Harris