UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE ADOPTS 15 RESOLUTIONS,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001124 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD SENV PREL PREF UNGA LE IS TX SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE ADOPTS 15 RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING ONE ON THE LEBANESE OIL SLICK REF: A. STATE 125066 ¶B. STATE 124609 ¶1. SUMMARY: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Second Committee (Economic and Financial) adopted 15 resolutions during its November 25 and 26 sessions. Per reftel A, the United States called for a vote and voted against the draft resolution entitled, "Oil slick on Lebanese shores," which was adopted 154-5(U.S.)-3. The United States joined consensus on 14 other resolutions and delivered an Explanation of Position (EOP),per reftel B, for the resolution on sustainable development for the Caribbean Sea. The Second Committee will reconvene the week of December 8 to conclude action on its outstanding resolutions for the 63rd General Assembly. END SUMMARY. LEBANON OIL SLICK RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY VOTE -------------- ¶2. The UNGA Second Committee considered draft resolution A/C.2/63/L.24/Rev.1 entitled, "Oil slick on Lebanese shores" under Agenda item 49 during its November 26 session. Per reftel A instructions, the United States called for a vote and voted against the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 154-5(U.S.)-3. France, on behalf of the EU, explained that it voted for the resolution based on its support for addressing the environmental impacts of the oil slick, but cautioned that those activities should not be diluted by political agendas. The EU alluded to its expectation that this is the final year for this resolution. Israel spoke out against this "one-sided" resolution and regretted what it called a "disturbing increase in the politicization of the Second Committee." Israel further emphasized that the resolution ignores the Hizbullah rocket attacks on Israeli citizens which prompted its bombing of the El-Jiyeh power plant, leading to the oil slick. Lebanon outlined the "colossal" economic and environmental damage resulting from the attack and accused Israel of violating international law and "shoving the region into a cycle of violence." SEVEN RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS ON NOV. 25 -------------- -------------- ¶3. The Second Committee adopted the following seven resolutions by consensus during its November 25 session, all of which contained no Program Budget Implications (PBIs): --A/C.2/63/L.35 entitled, "Report of the twelfth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development" submitted under Agenda item 47(a). --A/C.2/63/L.49 entitled, "International trade and development" submitted under Agenda item 47(a). --A/C.2/63/L.37 entitled, "Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus" submitted under Agenda item 48. --A/C.2/63/L.3/Rev.1/Add.1 entitled, "Reliable and stable transit of energy and its role in ensuring sustainable development and international cooperation" submitted under Agenda item 49. --A/C.2/63/L.45 entitled, "Protection of global climate for present and future generations" submitted under Agenda item 49(d). --A/C.2/63/L.47 entitled, "Development cooperation with middle-income countries" submitted under Agenda item 51(a). A/C.2/63/L.46 entitled, "Industrial development cooperation" submitted under Agenda item 53(b). ¶4. The United States co-sponsored the resolution on reliable and stable transit of energy. Turkmenistan noted that it looks forward to hosting a high-level meeting on this topic in 2009, while Tajikistan, Georgia, Russia, Syria, Chile, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia made interventions to express support for this resolution. SEVEN ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS ON NOV. 26 -------------- -------------- ¶5. During its November 26 meeting, the UNGA Second Committee adopted seven additional resolutions by consensus, including Resolution A/C.2/63/L.44 on sustainable development of Small Island Developing States, as orally amended to obviate a potential PBI - a concern which delayed consideration of this resolution on November 25. The seven resolutions adopted by consensus and containing no PBIs were: --A/C.2/63/L.55 entitled, "Information and communication technologies for development" submitted under Agenda item 46. --A/C.2/63/L.42 entitled, "Commodities" submitted under Agenda item 47(d). --A/C.2/63/L.44 entitled, "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Program of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States" submitted under Agenda item 49(b), as orally amended. --A/C.2/63/L.52 entitled, "Towards the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea for present and future generations" submitted under Agenda item 49(b). --A/C.2/63/L.51 entitled, "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" submitted under Agenda item 49(c). --A/C.2/63/L.50 entitled, "Natural disasters and vulnerability" submitted under Agenda item 49(c). --A/C.2/63/L.53 entitled, "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa" submitted under Agenda item 49(e). ¶6. Per reftel B instructions, the United States delivered an EOP on resolution A/C.2/63/L.52 on sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea. Turkey and Venezuela spoke to dissociate from references in the resolution to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),to which they are not Parties. ADDITIONAL MEETING REQUIRED -------------- ¶7. The Second Committee did not complete consideration of its outstanding resolutions by the end of the November 26 session (13 remain to be acted upon),and will therefore reconvene during the week of December 8 to conclude its activities for the 63rd General Assembly. The Committee Chair announced that it would schedule additional meetings to continue negotiations on draft resolutions covering "International Migration and Development" and "Globalization and Interdependence" before the Committee's final meeting. Wolff