Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK1189
2007-12-20 16:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY GRADUATES SAMOA FROM LDC

Tags:  EAGR SENV WS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6893
PP RUEHAP
DE RUCNDT #1189 3541603
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201603Z DEC 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3374
INFO RUEHAP/AMEMBASSY APIA PRIORITY 0068
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2979
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001189 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV WS
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY GRADUATES SAMOA FROM LDC
STATUS, ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON UN FORUM ON FORESTS

REF: USUN 1091

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001189

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV WS
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY GRADUATES SAMOA FROM LDC
STATUS, ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON UN FORUM ON FORESTS

REF: USUN 1091


1. In its December 17 session, the UN General Assembly
adopted by consensus draft resolution A/62/L.33 entitled,
"Graduation of Samoa," submitted under Agenda item 43. The
resolution takes note of a July 2007 decision by the Economic
and Social Council that endorsed a recommendation by the
Committee for Development Policy that Samoa be graduated from
the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Samoa is only
the third country to begin graduating from the list of LDCs.
In a statement before adoption, Samoa said its acceptance of
this graduation is a "giant leap of faith," noting with
concern its economic vulnerability and worrying whether its
development partners will meet assurances of assistance in
the future.


2. The Assembly also adopted by consensus the Report of the
Second Committee, A/62/419 (Part I),which included the draft
resolution entitled "Non-legally binding instrument on all
types of forests." The Second Committee earlier adopted this
draft resolution, also by consensus, on November 28 (reftel).
On behalf of the EU, Portugal lauded the adoption as a
milestone in international cooperation on forests. The
adoption was followed by a commemorative event marking the
occasion. Several speakers connected this resolution to the
recent climate change ministerial in Bali, noting the role
that forests can play as "carbon sinks" to mitigate the
effects of climate change.
Khalilzad