WASHINGTON – Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin voted to support a House resolution condemning the attempt to equate Zionism with racism by organizers of the U.N. Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The resolution passed the House Monday by a 408-3 vote. The conference is scheduled to start Aug. 31 in Durbin, South Africa.

The Bush Administration has threatened to boycott the Conference if organizers insist on reviving the1975 U.N. General Assembly resolution that equated Zionism with racism. The U.N. resolution was repealed in 1991.

"This effort to equate Zionism with racism was proposed by the Arab working group and is an effort to divide the conference and revive criticism of Israel," said Rep. Cardin. The Congressman is a member of the Helsinki Commission, which monitors human rights.

"This U.N. conference is important and I urge all participants not to let a small minority with a separate agenda derail its work. It's important that we tackle the scourges of racism and discrimination which have divided people and caused immeasurable suffering around the world."