UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES: FOOD CRISIS,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000871 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON UNGA HO EN MI CY CO LG NR ES, NS, GT, PL, CT, CV, AL, CS, MG SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES: FOOD CRISIS, TERRORISM, CLIMATE CHANGE KEY THEMES IN EIGHTH PLENARY MEETING ¶1. SUMMARY: During the afternoon meeting of the 63rd UN General Assembly on September 24, the General Debate focused on the food crisis, climate change and the increasing price of energy, with many noting a need for a more modern, efficient United Nations. The leaders of developing countries called for donor countries to meet Millennium Development Goal commitments. Several speakers raised concerns over terrorism and organized crime. Eastern European leaders discussed energy security, territorial integrity, and state sovereignty, with an eye on Russia's recent actions in Georgia. The Latin American countries expressed strong concern over the financial crisis, and called for more control over private companies and financial institutions. The leaders of several countries touched upon immigration, with the Latin American leaders focusing on immigrants' rights, and African and Pacific Rim leaders pleading for developed countries to open their borders. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The following participated: Honduran President Rosales; Mozambican President Guebuza; Estonian President Ilves; Malawian President Mutharika; Cypriot President Christofias; Colombian President Uribe; Latvian President Zatlers; Nauruan President Stephen; Salvadoran President Gonzalez; Surinamese President Venetiaan; Guatemalan President Caballeros; Polish President Kaczynski; Central African President Bozize; Cape Verdean President Pires; Albanian President Topi; Costa Rican President Sanchez; and Mongolian Prime Minister Bayar. All statements are available at www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate. ENERGY SECURITY, TERRITORIAL ISSUES CRITICAL TO EASTERN EUROPE -------------- -------------- ¶3. Estonian President Ilves stressed the gravity of the Russian-Georgian conflict, stating that Russia's actions had seriously violated the principles governing relations between states and had proven that it is possible for even a Security Council Permanent Five member to get away with disregarding international treaties and law. Latvian President Zatlers called for adherence to and implementation of the cease-fire agreement by Russia, the removal of all foreign troops from Georgian territory, and the establishment of a European Union (EU) monitoring mission in Georgia. After witnessing the "illegal military aggression and division" of Georgia, Polish President Kaczynski said that "certain states" use energy resources to manipulate political outcomes in neighboring countries, underscoring the urgency for Europe to diversify its energy supplies and expand its energy transport infrastructure. Albanian President Topi rejected out of hand any linkage between Georgia and Kosovo, calling the latter a sui generis case. Kosovar independence enables the Balkans to escape from "historical injustices," he added, and urged the United Nations to admit Kosovo as a member. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WORRIED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD CRISIS -------------- -------------- ¶4. Mozambique, Malawi, El Salvador, Suriname, the Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Mongolia and Nauru related the difficult situations their countries and regions faced as a result of climate change, the food crisis and rising energy prices. Several leaders underscored the devastating impact of natural disasters on their countries, with Nauru President Stephen calling for the Security Council to discuss climate change, as he said it presents a threat to international peace and security. The Presidents of Mozambique, Honduras and Suriname called for the elimination of developed countries' "unfair" and protectionist agricultural policies. Malawi requested that the international community consider granting agricultural subsidies to developing countries, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa. Central African Republic President Bozize added that African farmers need assistance in improving agricultural production, calling hunger "one of the worst weapons of mass destruction." In contrast to the call from many developing countries for developed countries to fulfill their Millennium Development Goal commitments, Estonian President Ilves stated that "every nation is itself primarily responsible for its own development." A PLEA FOR IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, OPEN BORDERS -------------- ¶5. Honduran President Rosales stated that immigration was a human right rather than a crime, and appealed to the United States and Europe to consider immigrants' rights and promote the reunification of split families. Salvadoran President Gonzalez called for the United States to consider the rights of its nearly 12 million undocumented migrants, and noted the importance of international coordination on migration policies to prevent transnational crimes like trafficking in persons. Guatemalan President Caballeros argued for acceptance of the globalization and free flow of labor and migration, just as the world has accepted the free flow of material and information. He proposed the Secretary-General convene a panel to examine the nature and consequences of global migration. Nauruan President Stephen appealed to the developed countries to open their labor markets to workers from developing countries, to reduce trade barriers, and to promote labor mobility. He specifically requested the United States to grant preferential access for Nauruan workers to economic opportunities created by the U.S. military presence in Guam. LATIN AMERICA FOCUSED ON FINANCIAL CRISIS, FIGHTING TERRORISM -------------- -------------- ¶6. Honduran President Rosales criticized multinational companies for their role in the financial crisis, which he said has triggered "rapid and devastating spikes" in food and energy prices. The "wild and savage" capitalist system with its "demonic" market laws was now "paradoxically devouring its very creators," he said. Rosales said that aid to developing countries should be given without imposed conditions. Guatemalan President Caballeros blamed manipulation and speculation for exacerbating the global financial crisis. Salvadoran President Gonzalez called for those countries involved in the financial crisis to meet to discuss possible solutions before losing ground on advances made in fighting poverty in recent years. ¶7. Colombian President Uribe highlighted the progress Colombia has made in fighting terrorism and reducing crime, resulting in lower homicide rates, the dismantling of paramilitary groups, and the release of many hostages. He explained that Columbia is giving special protection to union leaders, teachers, and journalists in an effort to eliminate impunity. Democracy is key to the ongoing fight against terrorism and organized crime, he added. Costa Rican President Sanchez argued in an eloquently delivered discourse on disarmament that all nations should divert "excessive" military spending to address poverty and hunger, claiming that, "every tank is a symbol of postponed attention to the needs of our people." Moving beyond the region, Sanchez called for those responsible for crimes in Darfur to be brought before the International Criminal Court, lest the history of Kosovo, Bosnia, Rwanda and Cambodia repeat itself. Khalilzad