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