UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES (SEPTEMBER 25 PM)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000886 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PREL PGOV ECON AORC KPKO YI FM CF WZ MG, CM, VM, MA, NS, LI, KE, NZ, MW, CT, NH, LU, BF, BP, KZ, BN, RP, AJ, GB, MO SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES (SEPTEMBER 25 PM) ¶1. SUMMARY: During the eighth plenary meeting of the general debate of the General Assembly, the last of the presidents of countries spoke and governmental representatives began to represent their countries. The representative from Madagascar was unable to speak after an objection by Southern African development Community (SADC). The issues of climate change, Security Council reform and the economic crisis were constants in most speeches. Serbia concentrated on Kosovo's declaration of independence. The Pacific island countries concentrated on climate change and how rising sea levels might cause them to disappear. Smaller countries continued to point out how the financial crisis that they did not cause is adversely effecting their economies. Full text of statements is available at www.un.org/ga/64/generaldebate; video archives are at www.un.org/webcast/2009.html. END SUMMARY ¶2. The following countries president's spoke: Serbian President Tadic, Micronesian President Mori, Congo-Brazzaville President Sassou Nguesso, Swaziland King Mswati, Mongolian President Tsakhia, Cameroonian President Biya and Vietnamese President Triet. Governmental representatives spoke for Suriname, Liberia, Kenya, New Zealand, Montenegro, Central African Republic, Vanuatu, Luxembourg, Bahamas, Solomon Islands, Kazakhstan, Benin, Phillippines, Azerbaijan and Gabon. All speeches available at un.org/ga/64/generaldebate. ¶3. The speaker from Madagascar, President of the High Transitional Authority Rajoelina, was announced by the president of the GA. The representative from the Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately raised a point of order, objecting on the grounds that Rajoelina was not constitutionally elected. He raised this point as current president of of the SADC countries with the Comores Islands associating themselves with the motion. The president of the GA, on the advice of the UN legal council, stated that he could defer but not bar Rajoelina from speaking. The PGA ruled that Madagascar could speak. DRC objected to the ruling and the issue was put to a vote. After much confusion about what countries were actually voting on, and numerous motions for clarification, the vote was twenty three against Rajoelina speaking, four in favor, six abstaining and the rest of the body not voting. Madagascar's delegation left the GA at this point. COMMENT: PGA Treki was very flustered during this entire exchange and did not appear to understand the rules and procedures of the GA. END COMMENT. ¶4. Serbian President Tadic spoke about the "unilateral declaration of independence" of it's "southern province of Kosovo and Metohija". He stated that this will never be recognized by Serbia, but ruled out any use of force to settle the issue. The case has been brought before the International Court of Justice and Tadic argued that if independence is allowed "a door will open for challenging the territorial integrity of any UN member State". Tadic, switching into French, addressed the issue of EU membership, stating that it is important for Serbia to be integrated into Europe. ¶5. Kenyan Prime Minister Odinga addressed the economic crisis, climate change and security council reform. He talked of a food crisis that is affecting Kenya and made an appeal for donor support to feed the "10 million Kenyans who are living in hunger and could face starvation shortly." He also addressed Somalia and piracy. He called for a defeat of "the forces of extremism in Somalia, which have so much sway because of the help of external elements". He requested the UN security council to impose no fly zones and block seaports held by insurgents to prevent arms inflows. He also asked for help in dealing with refugees from this conflict. ¶6. New Zealand Prime Minister Key reaffirmed his country's support for the UN and its institutions. He addressed the economic crisis, arguing that liberalized free trade and an end to price controls and agricultural trade restrictions is the way forward. Key announced an increase in development aid, with a focus on the Pacific island region. He addressed climate change issues, stating that New Zealand needs to "find a way to balance growth in agricultural production with the need to reduce emissions and reach climate change targets". USUN NEW Y 00000886 002 OF 003 ¶7. Prime Minister Dukanovic touched on a broad range of subjects in his address to the General Assembly, including climate change, peace and security, the economic crisis, UN reform, and non-proliferation. Montenegro remains firmly committed to the UN Charter and advocates achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Dukanovic feels Montenegro has made great progress towards EU and NATO membership. Montenegro views regional co-operation as vital to advancing political dialogue and will contribute to talks within the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework on Climate Change) and the Kyoto protocol frameworks. As a troop contributing country, Montenegro supports continued peace keeping including in Liberia, Afghanistan and Cyprus. In this same note, Dukanovic stressed the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, including those from the former Yugoslavia. ¶8. Deputy Prime Minister Asselborn applauded U.S. efforts to promote a two-state peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine. He stated that Israel's policy of colonization was an obstacle to peace in the region and that it humiliated the Palestinians. According to Asselborn, President Mahmoud Abbas demonstrated "substantial progress in terms of security and governance" in the West Bank. Additionally, he supports U.S./Russian negotiations that would create a new global agreement on disarmament when START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) expires in December. He also approved the U.S. decision to discard the idea of a missile defense shield. ¶9. Secretary of State Saudabayev discussed Kaszakhstan's assistance to the International Coalition in Afghanistan and stressed that the solution cannot be achieved through purely military means. Humanitarian issues and illicit drug trafficking must also be confronted. Kazakhstan favors putting into force the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and applauds the U.S. President on his determination to do so. Saudabayev also welcomes the U.S./Russian negotiation efforts on disarmament. ¶10. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Romulo laid out his vision for change, passionately stating, "Our march of progress must not stall. Not on our watch." He appealed to member countries to be inspired by their shared commitment. He laid out five challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve progress. First, promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, he announced that the Philippines will preside over the May 2010 Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. He also applauded President Obama's pledge to lead the U.S. to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the commitment by the U.S. and Russia to reduce nuclear warheads through the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). He called for the remaining countries to accede the CTBT and the NPT. In discussing his second challenge regarding the global financial crisis, he called on countries to "resist protectionism." His third point touched on migrant workers and global development and urges nations to agree on the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Climate Change and Interfaith/Inter-civilization Dialogue were his third and fourth challenges, respectively. The Philippines will host a Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development in Manila in December. UN Peacekeeping was his fifth challenge; he affirmed a commitment to peacekeeping and noted that the Philippines is the largest individual police contributor. ¶11. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan's main concern was the unresolved Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is a major threat to peace and security for the international community. Four Security Council resolutions support Azerbaijan's sovereignty and call for the withdrawal of the occupying forces from all territories of Azerbaijan. ¶12. Micronesia, Vanuatu, the Bahamas and the Solomon Islands discussed the effect that climate change could have on their countries. Micronesian President Mori said that if the polar ice sheets melt, "Micronesia and all low-lying islands will disappear." Congo-Brazzaville, Cameroon, Swaziland, Kenya and Vietnam all addressed the economic crisis, stating that USUN NEW Y 00000886 003 OF 003 they were being disproportionately affected by it. The African countries all called for security council reform, with a permanent seat with veto power for the continent. Liberia addressed domestic and regional issues and the positive effect of the UN Mission (UNMIL). RICE