The United States should shun events next year at the United Nations commemorating the 2001 Durban Declaration on racism, 18 US senators said Friday, citing worries over anti-Semitic and anti-US rhetoric.
"We urge you to again refrain from participating in the conference as long as it undermines the very goal of fighting discrimination with a demonstration of anti-Semitism," the group wrote to Washington's UN ambassador, Susan Rice.
"We believe that the United States ought to demonstrate leadership on these issues by removing itself from association with Durban III and encouraging other nations to do the same," they said.
The lawmakers, led by Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, expressed "dismay" that the events would take place in New York City just 10 days after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist strikes.
Washington must "send a strong signal" against letting the conference serve as a forum for anti-US and anti-Semitic rhetoric and "we can send this signal by making clear now that the United States will not participate," they said.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to hold a one-day plenary in September 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Durban conference in 2001.
Nine governments including Canada, the United States, Australia, Israel, Germany and Britain boycotted last year's Durban II talks because of fears of anti-Semitism.
US and Canadian officials have said those concerns were realized when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the conference as a platform to launch a virulent attack on Israel.
Ahmadinejad's speech sparked a temporary walkout by delegates of 23European states, and overshadowed the core issue of rising racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
"Of course, we would welcome the United States' eventual return to the conference if it were to become a legitimate forum for combating discrimination -- but that is a development that seems highly improbable," the senators wrote.