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".

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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

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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