President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Democracy thrives on debate. So much has been achieved in the development of our political and cultural life because we have aspired to obtain and then cherished the freedom of speech. The verbal battlefield nudges us towards discovery and possibility. What sense is there then for British and other European diplomats to walk out of the UN Racism Conference? Refusing to talk takes us one step nearer to violence. Further, the points President Ahmadinejad made need to be addressed. We may have clear answers for many of them. Some though may cause us more difficulty, which adds to the impression that the reason for the walk out may be less than worthy.