UN GENERAL DEBATE: PAKISTAN, ZIMBABWE, SUDAN AND

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000874 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM UNGA PK ZI SU AS JA KS NO, NL, SP, KU, FM, PU, WZ, TT, CM, BX, AN, SM, SC SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE: PAKISTAN, ZIMBABWE, SUDAN AND OTHERS REF: STATE 98982 ¶1. SUMMARY: During the afternoon of September 25, the UN General Assembly General Debate continued with its tenth plenary meeting. In an afternoon featuring Pakistan and Zimbabwe's Heads of State and Sudan's Vice-President, security issues were a primary focus. Participants called for peace in the Middle East, continued efforts to combat terrorism, and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and expressed concerns regarding nuclear energy (specifically in reference to Iran and North Korea). The leaders of several developed countries emphasized that increased efforts to protect the environment were critical to counter the effects of climate change and the global food crisis. Calls for UN reform, particularly for "democratization" of the United Nations and expansion of the Security Council continued. Many speakers called for greater measures to ensure the protection of human rights, with several focusing on women's rights and religious tolerance, and some calling for the elimination of the death penalty. As in previous meetings, many speakers focused on achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),with the leaders of developing nations calling upon the developed world to fulfill MDG commitments. Several speakers -- from both developed and developing countries -- focused on health care reform, particularly concerning reproductive health. END SUMMARY ¶2. During the meeting, the following spoke: Micronesian President Mori; Guinean President Vieira; Swazi King Mswati III; Timorese President Ramos-Horta; Zimbabwean President Mugabe; Cameroonian President Biya; Pakistani President Zardari; Sudanese Vice-President Taha; Spanish President Zapatero; Japanese Prime Minister Aso; Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Al-Sabah; Korean Prime Minister Seung-soo; Bruneian Crown Prince Haji Billah; Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Andorran Chief of Government Pintat; Sammarinese Head of Government Stolfi; Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg; Kittitian/Nevisian Prime Minister Douglas; and Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende. All statements are available at www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate. PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. President Zardari eulogized his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, praised democracy, pledged support in combating terrorism, and asserted Pakistani sovereignty. Citing last week's bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Zardari emphasized Pakistan's victimization: "We do not learn about terror from reading newspapers....We have lost more soldiers than all 37 countries that have forces in Afghanistan put together." Zardari appealed for time and space to combat terrorism. "A democratic Pakistan is in the process of reaching the national consensus necessary to confront and defeat the terrorists," he said. With no specific reference to the United States, Zardari warned that "Unilateral actions of great powers should not inflame the passions of allies. Violating our nation's sovereignty is not helpful in eliminating the terrorist menace. Indeed, this could have the opposite effect." Zardari pledged to bring order to Pakistani territory, cooperate with Afghanistan and NATO, and continue dialogue with India. He denounced the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he called the democratically elected leader of Myanmar. Diverging from his prepared remarks, Zardari expressed specific appreciation for the support of FLOTUS Laura Bush on this issue. ZIMBABWE -------------- ¶4. Per reftel instructions, all senior USG officials vacated the U.S. chair during Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's intervention, leaving only a notetaker. Mugabe denounced the United States and the United Kingdom for committing "genocide" in Iraq. He called for an end to the "self-righteous unilateral sanctions" based on "lies and machinations" so that Zimbabwe could "focus undisturbed on its economic turnaround program." On the Zimbabwean power-sharing agreement, Mugabe stated "Africa is capable of solving her own problems" and thanked former South African President Thabo Mbeki for his mediation. SUDAN -------------- ¶5. In a 30-minute intervention, Sudanese Vice-President Taha chided the international community for tardy follow-through an financial commitments and interference in Sudan's internal affairs. He asserted Sudan's sole responsibility for Darfur and denounced "foreign conspiracies that threaten peace." He said such movements did not seek peace in Darfur, but regime change in Sudan, adding that the Sudanese government is implementing its agreements "in an exemplary manner". Taha characterized the arrest warrant against Sudan's President as a "moral assassination" with "ulterior motives". (NOTE: This week's Group of 77 Ministerial Meeting, taking place in New York, elected Sudan as Chairman of the G-77 for 2009. END NOTE.) HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- ¶6. Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende recalled the "four freedoms" as defined by former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from want and fear),and emphasized the need for greater efforts to eliminate the use of torture and the death penalty and to promote freedom of expression and belief. He called for wider acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and called for a fair and balanced Human Rights Council. Balkende also characterized the access to potable water as a human right. Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg reminded the Assembly that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was to guide the body in its actions, arguing that the job of the United Nations is to ensure the rights and opportunities of individuals, groups, and countries. Spanish President Zapatero urged the Assembly to not be "complacent" in working to protect the rights outlined in the declaration, and called for a universal moratorium on the death penalty by 2015. Andorra, Kuwait, San Marino and Swaziland called for progress in the area of women's rights, and Brunei and San Marino urged the practice of religious tolerance. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION -------------- ¶7. Virtually all speakers raised concerns regarding climate change and the need for greater environmental protection measures. Noting that carbon emissions from one part of the planet affect the entire planet and could radically impact our future, Australian Prime Minister Rudd implored Member States to take collective action to reduce carbon emissions. Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg called for efforts against deforestation, which he said would be the most effective and quickest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The leaders of many developing nations said that climate change was having devastating effects on their countries, particularly by virtue of more frequent natural disasters and the diminishing availability of food staples due to phenomena like deforestation, desertification, and flooding. ECONOMIC REFORM -------------- ¶8. Australian Prime Minister Rudd termed the current "quantum of financial institutional failure" "significant" and "unprecedented." He believed the global financial crisis served as a call to the international community to act, and said that governments have a responsibility to protect financial markets. Rudd called for reform of financial markets and regulatory systems and for clear incentives to encourage financial institutions to behave responsibly. Japanese Prime Minister Aso urged calm in the face of the financial crisis. Micronesian President Mori said that the financial turbulence emanating from the larger economies placed everyone at risk. Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg referred to the "unsound investment" which "threatens the homes and the jobs of the middle class." The leaders of several developing countries noted that the economic stability stemming from developed countries had a global impact. Khalilzad