UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: PALESTINIAN RESOURCES AND

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001062 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECIN ETTC KPAL UNGA IS SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: PALESTINIAN RESOURCES AND UNILATERAL SANCTIONS REF: A. STATE 157045 ¶B. STATE 157330 ¶1. Summary. The UN General Assembly's Second Committee (Economic and Financial) adopted four resolutions on November ¶16. Per reftel instructions, the U.S. called for a vote and voted against resolutions on the permanent sovereignty of Palestinian natural resources and unilateral economic measures against developing countries. The U.S. joined consensus on resolutions on information and communication technologies for development and the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Vote counts are included below. End summary. Palestinian Resources -------------- ¶2. The committee first took action on resolution A/C.2/62/L.7/Rev.1, submitted under Agenda item 41, entitled: "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources." In accordance with Ref A, the U.S. called for a vote and the resolution was adopted 143-7(U.S.)-5. The U.S. did not speak, per reftel instructions, but Canada explained its "no" vote by calling the resolution unbalanced. Israel called the resolution "a disturbing reminder of the colossal gap between this body and results on the ground," and called on the Palestinians to focus more on caring for their own natural resources instead of fighting Israel and amongst themselves. ¶3. Portugal, speaking for the EU, stated that while they voted in favor of the resolution, they believe that the issue should be addressed in the context of the ongoing Middle East peace negotiations and that the resolution should not prejudice the outcome of those negotiations. For its part, Palestine thanked member states for their support and called Israel's statements "baffling." After the vote, six countries (El Salvador, Uganda, Peru, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia) all explained that due to tardiness they had missed the vote, but had intended to vote in favor. The chair stated that the vote would be amended as such, but the secretariat later confirmed that these statements would be noted in the record of the meeting but the final vote count would not be amended. Unliateral Economic Sanctions -------------- ¶4. The committee also took action on resolution A/C.2/62/L.8 entitled, "Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries," submitted under Agenda item 52 (a),Macroeconomic policy questions: international trade and development. In accordance with Ref B, the U.S. called for a vote and the resolution was adopted 107-1(U.S.)-51. Portugal, on behalf of the EU, explained that it chose to abstain because "unilateral economic measures are admissible in certain circumstances in particular when necessary in order to fight terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or to uphold respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance." Portugal said the EU "is committed to using sanctions as part of an integrated, comprehensive policy approach." No other countries spoke or referenced U.S. policy, so the U.S. did not deliver any remarks, per reftel instructions. ICT for Development and the International Year of Astronomy -------------- ¶5. The committee adopted two more resolutions by consensus: A/C.2/62/L.35, submitted under Agenda item 51, entitled: "Information and communication technologies for development," and A/C.2/62/L.36, entitled: "International Year of Astronomy, 2009." The latter, originating from an earlier decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was submitted under Agenda item 56 (b),Globalization and interdependence: science and technology for development. Khalilzad