The Czech Republic has announced it would not take part in the September 22 United Nations conference on racism in New York dubbed Durban III.
Prague cited concerns that the conference would be used as a platform to make "unacceptable statements with anti-Jewish connotations.”
"The Czech Republic will not attend the September top-level meeting and will not participate in any informal talks designed to pass a political declaration that is to ensue from them," the Czech Foreign Ministry said.
The Czech Republic is considered one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe. Its decision to boycott the commemoration of the 2001 Durban conference places it alongside Israel, the US, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands who have announced their intention not take part in the event.
Geneva-based rights group UN Watch commended the Czech government decision and called on EU states and other democracies to follow suit.
“The Durban process has been marked by ugly displays of intolerance and anti-Semitism, and that is not something that should be commemorated,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer.
“We are further concerned by the timing and venue, given that New York will have just held solemn ten-year memorials for those murdered in the September 11 terrorist attacks.”