UNGA TAKES ACTION ON CONFLICT DIAMONDS, SPORT FOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001191

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF KPAL UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA TAKES ACTION ON CONFLICT DIAMONDS, SPORT FOR
PEACE, PALESTINIAN ASSISTANCE, LEGAL EMPOWERMENT OF THE
POOR, AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS


1. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted by consensus 10
resolutions and a text on December 11. The resolutions and
report were as follows: U.S. co-sponsored "The Role of
Diamonds in Fueling Conflict" (A/63/L.52),"Sport as a Means
to Promote Education, Health, Development and Peace"
(A/63/L.51),U.S. co-sponsored "Humanitarian Assistance and
Reconstruction of Liberia" (A/63/L.45),U.S. co-sponsored
"Strengthening Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation,
Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Indian
Ocean Tsunami Disaster" (A/63/L.47),U.S. co-sponsored
"Safety and Security of Humanitarian Personnel and Protection
of United Nations Personnel" (A/63/L.48),U.S. co-sponsored
"Strengthening of Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian
Assistance of the United Nations" (A/63/L.49),U.S.
co-sponsored "Assistance to the Palestinian People"
(A/63/L.50),U.S. co-sponsored "Strengthening the
Coordination of Humanitarian Disaster Relief and Assistance
of the United Nations, including Economic Assistance"
(A/63/L.53),U.S. co-sponsored "Legal Empowerment of the Poor
and Eradication of Poverty" (A/63/L.25/Rev.1),"Cooperation
between the United Nations and Portuguese-Speaking Countries"
(A/63/L.41),and a text on "Zone of Peace and Cooperation of
the South Atlantic" (A/63/525). Below are highlights from
delegates' Explanations of Position (EOP) and general
statements.

Conflict Diamonds
--------------


2. The Arab and African representatives' EOP's commended the
Kimberley Process (KP) as a valuable tool to address conflict
prevention and the illicit trade of diamonds but did not name
Israel as Vice-Chair or note Zimbabwe's difficulty in KP
implementation. Morocco on behalf of the African Group
referred to the KP as a vital instrument of conflict
prevention and deterrence but did not name the Chair or
Vice-Chair of the process (nor did the Russian
representative). The Botswanan and Angolan representatives
named Namibia as Chair but did not name Israel as Vice-Chair.
Syria, waiting until the end of the morning session, said
that it only withheld calling a vote out of deference to "our
brothers in the African continent" but argued that Israel
should not be Vice-Chair as its diamond merchants are also
reserve military officers that "fabricate" conflict in other
countries and recruit children into armed conflict. (Syria,
along with Iran, Qatar, and Libya, had earlier upheld
negotiations due to the resolution's naming of Israel as
Vice-Chair. They only conceded after the Indian Deputy
Permanent Representative chose to table the resolution,
despite his attempts to seek compromise language.)


3. In contrast, western representatives noted Israel as
Vice-Chair and called on Zimbabwe to address challenges to KP
implementation. France on behalf of the EU said that it is
not in the participants' interest to politicize the issue,
and regretted that the resolution did not mention the
challenges faced by Zimbabwe in KP implementation or include
a more positive statement on Namibia as Chair and Israel as
Vice-Chair. Within its intervention, the United States (as
well as Canada on behalf of Australia and New Zealand)
welcomed Israel as Vice-Chair and raised the issue of
Zimbabwe's illicit diamond trade.

Sport for Development and Peace
--------------


4. Several delegates highlighted harnessing sports as a means
to promote development and peace under a dedicated agenda
item considered biannually. Interventions were robust and
welcomed the Secretary-General's re-mandating of his Special
Advisor on Sport for Peace and Development and work program
that the consensus resolution then endorsed. The German
representative noted in particular the importance of the
participation of girls and women, as well as sports as a
means to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Kazakhstan noted that its Parliament would authorize
legislation ensuring equal access to physical training and
sport.

Security and Safety of Humanitarian Personnel
--------------


5. Pakistan and Singapore recalled their efforts to ensure
the security and safety of humanitarian personnel. Pakistan
raised the need to consolidate the location of the various UN
personnel working throughout Islamabad. Singapore bemoaned
that a few delegations refused to include references to the
Zacklin and Brahimi panels and asserted that their omission
may signal to the Secretary-General that the GA rejects the
panels' findings. Syria reiterated its interpretation of



"jurisdiction" to include the "occupied territories."

Assistance to the Palestinians
--------------


6. The Palestinian Observer Mission representative said that
acceptance of the resolution by consensus reaffirmed the GA's
commitment to the Palestinians and the realization of their
inalienable rights. He added that the assistance also
reaffirmed the Palestinians' existence and right to live a
life of dignity.

Humanitarian Assistance and Natural Disasters
--------------


7. Within its intervention, the United States (as well as
France on behalf of the EU) expressed support for the
resolution but added that they withheld co-sponsorship due to
the late introduction of revisions. Canada also said that
they lamented the last minute changes and added that the
study mentioned in OP 28 would place an undue burden on the
Secretariat. Switzerland agreed and stated that submitting
the resolution for consideration while affording so little
time for review violated UN Rule of Procedure 78, which
states that no delegation can discuss in or put to a vote a
resolution before the GA unless copies have been circulated
to all delegations no later than the day preceding the
meeting. (Despite coming to a consensus on December 5, the
G77 made changes to OP28 the night before the December 11
plenary.)
Khalilzad