Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK1074
2009-11-30 16:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

DEBATE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL

Tags:  PREL AORC UNGA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1074/01 3341630
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301630Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7715
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001074 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA
SUBJECT: DEBATE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001074

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA
SUBJECT: DEBATE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY


1. Summary: On November 19 and 20, the General Assembly
debated agenda item 118: Revitalization of the General
Assembly. Most of the over twenty-eight Member States who
spoke agreed on the need for full implementation of existing
resolutions, streamlining the agenda items and continuing
thematic debates. However, the speaker's list was dominated
by members of the non-aligned movement, who focused their
interventions on enhancing the UNGA's role in selection of
the Secretary-General and strengthening the Office of the
President of the General Assembly. Many also criticized the
Security Council for encroaching upon General Assembly
jurisdiction. Madagascar used the debate as a platform to
protest the GA's denial of its right to address the assembly
in September, which the DRC refuted in its right of reply.
End Summary.


2. Sweden, on behalf of the European Union, reiterated its
support for the revitalization of the General Assembly. To
this end, it referenced resolution 63/309 and the inventory
chart from last report of the Ad Hoc Working Group (A/63/959)
as tools to achieve this goal. In addition, Sweden called
for the swift implementation of existing resolutions and the
streamlining and modernization of the General Assembly
agenda. With regard to the selection of the
Secretary-General, Sweden noted the need for "full
application of the relevant provisions of the U.N. Charter
and respective resolutions from the General Assembly."


3. Algeria, representing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM),
observed that the revitalization of the General Assembly
should be conducted in "an inclusive, transparent, and
efficient manner." The NAM expressed concern over "Security
Council encroachment of the General Assembly" and the lack of
transparency and inclusiveness in the selection of the
Secretary-General, calling for formal presentations before
the General Assembly of candidates for the Secretary-General.
Algeria recommended strengthening the office of the
President of the General Assembly and requested a thorough
evaluation of the implementation of General Assembly
resolutions. It concluded by remarking that the NAM was wary
of any new balloting systems, particularly the use of optical
scanners, as it is not convinced they will protect the
credibility and confidentiality of the vote.


4. Mexico, representing the Rio Group, identified five

recommendations that should be adopted in order to revitalize
the General Assembly. First, the Rio Group advised that the
General Assembly should play more relevant role in the
selection of the Secretary-General. Second, it noted that
the General Assembly needs to reassert itself in its
authority in peace and international security issues. Third,
Mexico suggested that the Office of the President of the
General Assembly needs to be strengthened. Fourth, it
proposed streamlining the General Assembly agenda, possibly
through reviewing the agenda items on a biennial or triennial
basis. Finally, Mexico recommended improving the efficiency
of the manual voting system.

- - - - - - -
COMMON THEMES
- - - - - - -


5. The debate in the General Assembly on this agenda item
focused on several common themes. Almost all of the
delegations recommended an assessment of the implementation
of General Assembly resolutions, with Pakistan recommending a
resolution follow up mechanism. Most Member States (e.g.
Egypt, Vietnam, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil) called for a
review of the Secretary-General selection process, giving the
General Assembly a more substantive role.


6. Several delegations (South Africa, Kazakhstan, Colombia,
and Pakistan) supported strengthening the Office of the
President of the General Assembly. Some Member States (Cuba,
Iran, Nicaragua, and Venezuela) criticized the Security
Council for encroaching on the functions of the General
Assembly, with Brazil and India suggesting Security Council
expansion.


7. With regards to changing the balloting system, some
delegations did not see the benefit (Egypt) while others
(Belarus and Colombia) were in favor as long as it did not
affect the credibility and confidentiality of the vote.
Other recommendations made by delegates included streamlining
the General Assembly agenda (Belarus, Singapore, and Brazil),
continuing with thematic debates (Japan and Colombia),and
reasserting the General Assembly's role in peace and security
issues (Egypt, South Africa, and Iran).

- - - - - - - - - -
MADAGASCAR DEBATE
- - - - - - - - - -



8. Madagascar, in its intervention on the revitalization of
the General Assembly, focused most of its address by
protesting the "injustice" it experienced at the General
Assembly on September 25 when it was denied the right to
address the Assembly during the general debate. It described
its treatment in September as a violation of the sovereignty
of Madagascar.


9. At the conclusion of the general debate, the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC),speaking as Chair of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC),exercised its right of
reply regarding Madagascar's intervention. The DRC noted the
unconstitutional change in government in Madagascar and that
the leader of the Malagasy High Transitional Authority had
appointed his own government in defiance of an agreed upon
settlement.
RICE