UN GENERAL DEBATE: CUBA, AFGHANISTAN,ISRAEL,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000866 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC UNGA SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE: CUBA, AFGHANISTAN,ISRAEL, UKRAINE, AND OTHERS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: As the United Nations General Debate entered its second day, national leaders called for resolution of the food, energy, and financial crises, as well as implementation of UN reform (expanding the Security Council). Israel called for Israelis and Palestinians to live "side-by-side in peace." Ukraine denounced Russia's military actions against Georgia. Cuba called the United States a "threat to international security" and accused the USG of legalizing torture. Afghanistan warned that terrorism had spread to India and Pakistan, and urged a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. Burkina Faso also expressed support for a two-state solution and for negotiations to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. Chile and Paraguay urged support for the WTO Doha Round and a peaceful solution to the situation in Bolivia. Several states (including Sri Lanka, Paraguay, and Portugal) called on the General Assembly to address terrorism. Others (including Chile, Paraguay, Portugal, Slovenia, and Ghana) called for realizing the Millennium Development Goals. All interventions are available at the following website: www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate/. END SUMMARY. ¶8. (U) Speakers included: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ukrainian President Victor Yuschenko, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo Mendez, Portuguese President Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, Ghanan President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Slovenian President Danilo Turk, Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, Senegalese President Abdouley Wade, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Burkinabe President Blaise Campaore, Israeli President Shimon Peres, and Jose Ventura, First Vice-President of the Council of State and Ministers of Cuba. HIGHLIGHTS -------------- ¶2. (U) Israel: President Shimon Peres spoke on peace with a Palestinian state, emphasizing living "side-by-side in peace." Peres said the "Iranian people are not our enemies. Their fanatic leadership is their problem and the world's concern." While stating that Israel is able to defend itself, Peres praised the successful examples set by President Sadat and King Hussein. Peres also called for building on the Taif initiative and extended an open-ended offer of dialogue to Arab neighbors. ¶3. (U) Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai acknowledged that anti-Afghan terrorism has spread to Pakistan and India, called for the elimination of terrorist sanctuaries, and promised cooperation with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. He encouraged donors to strengthen Afghan institutions, help empower the local population, and follow through on assistance pledges. Karzai also addressed progress against corruption and narcotics, and appealed for increased food aid. He expressed sympathy for the Palestinians and, mentioning Israel by name, urged a two-state solution. In remarks not included in the printed statement, Karzai thanked the United States for its generosity but condemned unnecessary civilian casualties in the pursuit of terrorists. ¶4. (U) Cuba: First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers Jose Ventura characterized "the sole superpower" as aggressive and imperial, seeking to "crush the resistance of the peoples who are defending their rights." He also stated that the United States was a "threat to international security," and warned that if Member States do not act today, the consequences will be "apocalyptic". Ventura stated that the United States "continues to ruthlessly apply their blockade" and feigns "concern for the Cuban people." He also accused the United States of cruelly mistreating "illegal immigrants," legalizing the "use of torture," and keeping (innocents) in "concentration camps," "illegally" imprisoning "five Cuban patriots." (The U.S. Delegation vacated the U.S. Desk, leaving only a note-taker.) ¶5. (U) Ukraine: President Victor Yushchenko denounced Russia's violation of Georgian territory and stated that Ukraine does not support South Ossetia and Abkhazia's self-proclaimed independence. He added that Cold War rhetoric and the use of force deviate from UN principles. He also stated that Ukraine will cooperate fully to resolve peacefully the situation in the Caucuses. On the 75th Anniversary of the Great Famine (Holodomor),he encouraged all former Soviet states to seek the truth. (On the Caucuses, Slovenian President Fernandez stated only that "the remnants of Cold War mentality are still in existence.") ¶6. (U) Burkina Faso: President Blaise Compaore called for support to the UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur and for strengthened Lebanese sovereignty. He praised the Algiers Accord between the Malian government and rebels, and endorsed a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. On Iran, said he hoped negotiations would satisfy "Iranian rights to civil nuclear power" as well as "the legitimate fears of the international community". Campaore also expressed support for EU-sponsored talks on Georgia and warming relations between Taiwan and China. ¶7. (U) Mexico, Chile and Paraguay: Mexican President Calderon stated that migration was a shared responsibility between origin and destination countries, and should be "legal, safe, orderly and respectful of human dignity." He also called for a Mexican seat on the Security Council. Both Presidents Michelle Bachelet of Chile and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay encouraged Member States to reach agreement at the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO),as well as a peaceful solution, in the context of UNASUR, to the situation in Bolivia. Khalilzad