UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001164 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ECIN EAID AORC KWMN SOCI PREL UNGA LE SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE, LEBANON OIL SLICK, FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ACTIONS REF: A. STATE 164428 ¶B. STATE 164396 ¶C. STATE 164427 ¶D. STATE 164421 ¶E. STATE 164390 ¶1. Summary. The United Nations General Assembly's Second Committee adopted fourteen resolutions by consensus during its December 7 session. In accordance with Ref A and Ref B, the U.S. called for a vote and gave an Explanation of Vote (EOV) on the international trade and Lebanon oil slick draft resolutions. The U.S. joined consensus and delivered Explanations of Position (EOPs) for draft resolutions on external debt, financing for development, globalization, combating corruption, and women in development. The Committee also adopted by consensus draft resolutions on sustainable mountain development, science and technology for development, the UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, human resources development, South-South cooperation for development and the UN Institute for Training and Research. U.S. statements can be found under the December 7 Press Releases on the USUN website, http://www.un.int/usa. End summary. International Trade and Development -------------- ¶2. The Committee first considered draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.10 entitled "International trade and development," submitted under Agenda item 52(a). In accordance with Ref A, the U.S. called for a vote on the resolution as a whole. With a vote of 109-47(U.S.)-5, the resolution was adopted. The U.S. delivered the EOV included in reftel. In a notable change from previous years, European Union and several other like-minded states voted no instead of abstaining (last year the U.S. cast the only "no" vote). On behalf of the EU, Portugal gave an EOV on its vote against the resolution, stating that the resolution was imbalanced, did not take into account recent progress in the Doha round of trade negotiations, and called for a fresh text to be introduced next year in order to reach consensus. The EU also expressed its firm opposition to operative paragraph 25 requesting the UN Secretary-General to transmit the resolution to the WTO to be circulated as an official WTO document. Australia echoed these sentiments in a statement also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand (CANZ). Switzerland and Japan also called for a ;more consensual outcome in the future. Lebanon Oil Slick -------------- ¶3. The Committee then considered draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.21/Rev.1 entitled "Oil slick on Lebanon shores" submitted under Agenda item 54 (a). In accordance with Ref B, the U.S. called for a vote on the resolution, as did Israel. With a vote of 153-7(U.S.)-2, the resolution was adopted. In its EOV, Israel noted the disturbing increase in the politicization of the Committee's work distracts it from more substantive issues and criticized the resolution's one-sided nature and "stunning" omission of key aspects of the issue. In its EOV, Lebanon thanked delegations for their support, provided a litany of the "catastrophic" environmental effects of this oil slick, and stated that Israeli action was a "blatent violation of international law." Resolution With U.S. EOPs -------------- ¶4. The Committee adopted by consensus several resolutions for which the United States joined consensus and delivered an Explanation of Position (EOP). For draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.57, "External debt crisis and development," submitted under Agenda item 52(c),the U.S. delivered an EOP per Ref C. For draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.59, "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD)," submitted under Agenda item 53, Pakistan, on behalf of the G-77, stated in its EOP that the FFD follow-up Conference in Doha in 2008 should be a Summit, attended at the highest possible political level. On behalf of the EU, Portugal noted in its EOP that the outcome of the Doha FFD Conference should be a short, political statement and that each country will take a sovereign position on how best to represent itself at the Conference. The U.S. delivered a brief, congratulatory statement after the vote. (Note. See septel for further detail on FFD deliberations. End note). ¶5. For draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.61, "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption," submitted under Agenda item 56(c),the U.S. delivered an EOP per Ref D. Canada delivered a similar EOP stressing that because the UN Convention Against Corruption is the most important instrument to fight corruption, the need for the UNGA to address this topic is diminishing and therefore the 63rd UNGA session should biennialize consideration of this Agenda item. For draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.60, "Globalization and interdependence," submitted under Agenda item 56(a),the U.S. delivered an EOP questioning the need for this resolution. For draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.50, "Women in development," submitted under Agenda item 58(b),the U.S. delivered EOP per Ref E. Other Action -------------- ¶6. The Committee further adopted by consensus the following draft resolutions: --A/C.2/62/L.18/Rev.1 entitled, "Sustainable mountain development," submitted under Agenda item 54(h). --A/C.2/62/L.52 entitled, "Science and technology for development," submitted under Agenda item 56(b). --A/C.2/62/L.58 entitled, "Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries," submitted under Agenda item 57(a). --A/C.2/62/L.55 entitled, "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)," submitted under Agenda item 58(a). --A/C.2/62/L.51 entitled, "Human resources development" submitted under Agenda item 58(c). --A/C.2/62/L.54 entitled, "South-South cooperation for development" submitted under Agenda item 59(c). --A/C.2/62/L.53 entitled, "Training and research: United Nations Institute for Training and Research," submitted under Agenda item 60. Khalilzad