Sitting in sterile meeting rooms full of diplo-speak and painful (if not to say outright ridiculous) hierarchical protocol, you 've sometimes got to wonder if it's really possible to be any farther removed from the every day realities of cities, countries, towns and villages that are not quite so calm, so perfect, so proper - so well off - as Geneva.
But say the word "Durban" and all eyes start to roll, shoulders shudder and dread begins to set in on a process on racism and xenophobia that is widely perceived to have gone terribly wrong in South Africa the first time 'round... it tread such politically dangerous ground, in fact, that they've spent the last eight years reviewing it, trying to figure out how not to make the same mistakes again - and preparing for Durban II.
Today, eight years later, the beast again rose from its grave. Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (well-known for denying that the Holocaust every happened and calling for Isreal to be "wiped off the map") announces his attendance and is recognised by the UN as the "guest of honour", a dozen countries decide to boycott the event all together as a result, the UN plaza fills with horrendously loud (read: effective) protesters, I accomplish nothing in my office with all the noise outside, the conference room is packed to the hilt, Ahmadinejad gives his keynote speech, protesters dressed as clowns run down the aisle and chuck their noses at him, half of the governments that weren't already boycotting in the first place walk out, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel joins in "shame on you, shame on the UN" demonstrations packing normally surgically sterile hallways ... and this is only Day 1.
Let the diplo games begin.
As luck would have it, Marcel is also in town these days doing his yearly three-week mandatory military duty ... guarding, among others, the Israeli embassy and personal residence of the Israeli Ambassador. Except now that Swiss President has (heaven forbid!) shaken the hand of Ahmadinejad, Israel is recalling its Ambassador, effective immediately, and they've been sent to guard the Iranian embassy + President. All because two guys shook hands.
I can't say I'm any too keen on the guy myself, but really, between boycotts and handshakes, whatever happened to arguing through our differences? Isn't that what everyone went to law and diplomacy school for? Then again, I suppose it IS easier to all stomp off to our respective corners, squint our eyes shut, clamp our hands over our ears and scream "la-la-la-la-la".
Did I mention that tomorrow is International Holocaust Remembrance Day? Impeccable timing, indeed.
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