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Brazil condemns Ahmadinejad's comments on Israel ahead of visit

Iran Materials 22 April 2009 10:34 (UTC +04:00)

Brazil condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's verbal attack on Israel at a UN racism conference as it prepares for a May 6 visit by the Iranian leader, dpa reported.

Ahmadinejad trivialized the meaning of tragic and historically established events like the Holocaust, Brazil's Foreign Relations Ministry said Tuesday in a statement.

Such comments damage the climate for dialogue and the understanding necessary for international efforts to end discrimination, it added.

Ahmadinejad called Israel a "racist regime" Monday at the conference in Geneva and said the Palestinians had been "made homeless" after World War II "under the pretext of Jewish suffering" and under a misuse of facts about the Holocaust.

Brazil said it would use Ahmadinejad's visit to the South American country to make clear its stance against such comments.

A number of countries walked out of the Geneva meeting during Ahmadinejad's speech, which was internationally condemned. Brazil's delegation remained in the meeting room for the president's speech.

Ahmadinejad plans to also visit Venezuela during his upcoming Latin American trip, returning a visit President Hugo Chavez made to Iran in April 2008.

As a result of that visit, the two members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries established a development bank with starting capital of 200 million dollars.

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