UN GENERAL DEBATE: FOCUS ON ISRAEL/PALESTINE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000887 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS AORC UNGA VM PP PE EG SA ML AJ, BE, SY, MU, KZ, AG, BA, AE, GA, RO, NG SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE: FOCUS ON ISRAEL/PALESTINE, IRAN, AND "FROZEN" CONFLICTS ¶1. SUMMARY: During the September 27 morning plenary meeting of the UNGA General Debate, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Egypt, Mali, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Syria, Oman, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE),Gambia, Niger and Romania spoke. Saudi Arabia distributed its Foreign Minister's statement, but did not speak. Participants continued discussing the global financial, food and energy crises; climate change; implementation of the Millennium Development Goals; combating transnational crimes such as terrorism and the trafficking of drugs, arms, and persons; the need to conclude the Doha Round of trade talks; respect for human rights; and UN reform. Arab countries argued for a Palestinian state and Israeli nuclear disarmament. Syria criticized the United States for "failing to prioritize peace in the Middle East." Several speakers addressed Iran's nuclear program. Egypt and others urged countries to stop "interfering" with Sudan's security and stability. Speakers called for international attention to the conflicts in the former Soviet Union, and Syria hinted that Western powers were behind the recent instability in Georgia. All statements are available at www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate. END SUMMARY. ARAB COUNTRIES ON IRAQ, PALESTINE, ISRAEL, AND LEBANON -------------- -------------- ¶2. Stability and peace in Iraq remains a central concern for countries in the region. Saudi Arabia called on "certain states" (i.e., Iran) to stop violating Iraq's sovereignty by providing military and financial support to militias there. Syria, meanwhile, blamed the U.S. invasion for creating "abominable" humanitarian conditions that forced Iraqis to flee their homeland, demanding a withdrawal of all foreign troops. Oman noted its satisfaction with the "relative improvement" in Iraq's security situation, and called for continued efforts to reach a "comprehensive national understanding." All offered their political support for the restoration of Iraq's important role in the region. ¶3. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, and the UAE called for a peaceful, comprehensive solution to the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egypt offered its qualified appreciation for U.S. peace-brokering efforts, but questioned Israel's conviction to reach a "just" settlement. Israel must stop its "politically loaded" settlement activities, Egypt added. Syria questioned the efficacy of the Annapolis talks and claimed that after years of "deliberately ignoring" the pursuit of peace in the Middle East, the United States must now prioritize this issue. Oman argued for the international community to "intensify its efforts to make Israel shoulder its responsibilities." The UAE called upon the UN Security Council and the Quartet to "exert further pressure on Israel" to lift "the siege it has imposed on the Palestinian people" and to end its "unlawful settlement activities" by withdrawing from Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and occupied Lebanese territories. Bahrain emphasized the need for Israel to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanese territories. The Saudis noted that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country "loaded to the teeth" with weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and sought the disarmament of its nuclear warheads. Egypt lamented that "prominent members of the international community are unduly permissive" with Israel's nuclear capabilities and insisted that Israel adhere to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and subject its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards. ¶4. Several speakers from Arab nations congratulated Lebanon on its elections and formation of a national unity government. Syria described in positive terms its relationship with Lebanon. It noted the decision to exchange diplomatic representation, the shared intent to resume work of the joint border demarcation commission, and efforts to fight smuggling and promote cross-border commerce. Saudi Arabia welcomed these developments and underscored its call for Israel to withdraw from the Shebaa farms area, which it claimed Israel itself acknowledges to be occupied territory. Oman stated that Lebanese progress "invites optimism," and called upon Lebanon to commit to and implement the Doha Agreement. SPLIT VIEWS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM -------------- ¶5. Vietnam argued for a lasting solution to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear issues on the basis of respect for a state's legitimate right to a peaceful nuclear program while adhering to the tenets of the NPT. Saudi Arabia expressed its hope that Iran will take seriously the obligation to prevent the proliferation of WMDs and avoid a "futile" arms race in the region. Meanwhile, Syria supported Iran's claims USUN NEW Y 00000887 002 OF 002 to a peaceful nuclear program. "Deep mistrust" between Iran and its interlocutors has prevented a political solution, the Syrian speaker continued. Bahrain reiterated its call for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear question "to avoid the scourge of war," and emphasized the need for the elimination of WMDs, including nuclear weapons, from the Middle East, while protecting the rights of countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The UAE urged Iran to continue its collaboration with the IAEA, to dispel "concerns and suspicions" regarding the nature and objectives of its nuclear program. The UAE also expressed strong concern over Iran's occupation of three of its islands, calling for full restoration of the UAE's sovereignty over this territory. REGIONAL CONFLICTS SPUR CONCERNS OVER TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY -------------- -------------- ¶6. Romania, Azerbaijan, and Vietnam highlighted the need to respect territorial integrity in Georgia and, more broadly, the Former Soviet Union. Romania expressed concern regarding the international community's frequent reference to "frozen" conflicts when speaking of the conflicts in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. "A dormant volcano can still be an active volcano," the Romanian Foreign Minister said. The crisis in Georgia, he stressed, proved that the international community "cannot hide or stay shy from dealing with uncertain situations under the assumption that they will simply disappear eventually." He called for international attention to all of the region's "protracted conflicts" (as listed above). Azerbaijan stated that the events in Georgia proved that these "protracted conflicts" remained a major source of instability, and that "a fragile cease-fire regime cannot be a substitute for a lasting and durable peace in the region." Stability is necessary to ensure that hydrocarbon resources from the Caspian Sea can reach international markets, Azerbaijan noted. Syria hinted that Georgia and its allies were responsible for igniting the tensions and provoking Russia. ¶7. Egypt urged countries to stop "interfering" with Sudan's security and stability in an apparent drive to partition the country, and Algeria cautioned against efforts to "undermine the sovereignty" of the Sudan. Foreign powers should avoid actions that could hinder the achievement of peace in Darfur, the Saudis added. Referring to Sudan (and Burma),Belgium cautioned that countries can not be allowed to use sovereignty as an excuse to abdicate the responsibility to protect their peoples. Many speakers called for continued efforts to establish peace in the Darfur region. Khalilzad