RESPONSE TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL REGARDING

UNCLAS STATE 078251 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN UNGA SENV SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL REGARDING HIS SUGGESTIONS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR THE G8 SUMMIT IN L'AQUILA, ITALY (S/ES: 200912749) ¶1. (U) Please deliver the letter in paragraph two from the Secretary in reply to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's June 22 letter to President Obama. SYG Ban invited the President to consider several issues for attention at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, and noted that he would convene a summit of world leaders in September to discuss climate change. We have conveyed to SYG Ban that the President would participate in some fashion. There will be no signed original. ¶2. (U) Begin text. Dear Mr. Secretary-General: I am writing in response to your letter of June 22 to President Obama regarding the importance of addressing climate change, poverty reduction, and economic growth at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy. We very much appreciate your efforts to focus the attention of world leaders on these important issues and share your concerns. We are pleased that G8 leaders took an important step in agreeing to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050 at the Summit in L'Aquila. We are also pleased that leaders of the G8 and major developing countries acknowledged the scientific view that warming ought not exceed two degrees Celsius, and that global emissions must peak as soon as possible. We believe these are helpful steps for the ongoing negotiations within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change for a global climate change treaty in Copenhagen in December. A successful outcome will require the UN and all its Member States to contribute to meeting this important global challenge, including significant commitments by both developed and major developing countries. The United States and its G8 counterparts remain committed to combating poverty and hunger and, to that end, President Obama has pledged to seek increases to our investment in agricultural development assistance annually, to provide at least $3.5 billion over the next three years. In cooperation with other donors, we hope to mobilize $20 billion over the next three years for food security. Similarly, along with members of the G8 and the G20, we have committed to undertaking the structural and regulatory reforms necessary to return the world economy to one of prosperity and growth where all nations have the opportunity to achieve their development goals, including the hunger and poverty alleviation objectives of the Millennium Development Goals. We know the UN is undertaking management reforms as well, and we anticipate an effective partnership as we pursue our common objectives of delivering development aid effectively in an era of limited resources. The United States appreciates your leadership at the UN and recognizes that the UN system plays a key role in responding to today's global challenges. We look forward to receiving more information on your proposed summit of world leaders on climate change and anticipate active U.S. participation. Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton CLINTON