UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES: NETHERLANDS, EGYPT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000889 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KPKO UNGA BY TH NL KG TV TD WS, BG, SC, LT, NP, TN, LA, EG, JO, LO, MO SUBJECT: UN GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES: NETHERLANDS, EGYPT AND JORDAN SPEAK ¶1. SUMMARY: The ninth plenary meeting of the 64th UN general assembly was held on the morning of September 26. The themes of the economic crisis, climate change and UN reform, specifically the expansion of permanent members of the Security Council continued. Iran's nuclear program was addressed by the Netherlands and Slovakia, with the Netherlands also addressing Iran's human rights record. Regional issues were discussed by Burundi, Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic, Egypt and Jordan. The Israel - Palestine situation was addressed by Middle Eastern countries. END SUMMARY ¶2. The following countries representative's spoke: Burundi's second vice-president Ntisezerana, Prime Minister of Thailand Vekkakiva, Netherlands Prime Minister Balkenende, Kyrgyz Republic Prime Minister Chudinov, Tuvalu Prime Minister Ielemia, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Manning, Somoa Prime Minister Malielegaoi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina, Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Douglas, Lesotho Prime Minister Mosisili, Nepal Prime Minister Kumar, Tonga Prime Minister Sevele, Lao Foreign Affairs Minister Sisoulith, Egypt Foreign Affairs Minister Gheit, Jordan Foreign Affair Minister Judeh, Slovakia Foreign Affairs Minister Lajcak and Morocco Foreign Affairs Minister Fihri. Full text is statement is available at un.org/ga/64/generaldebate, video archives are at un.org/webcast/2009html. ¶3. Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina spoke about domestic issues, specifically elections, education and health. She then addressed climate change and the economic crisis. On climate change, she pointed out that as a low-lying coastal country Bangladesh will bear a heavy burden if sea levels rise. She praised the proposal by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown to establish a fund to support climate change mitigation. On peacekeeping operations, she pointed out that while Bangladesh is the second largest contributor to peacekeeping missions it does not have proportional representation at Peacekeeping Operations in UN headquarters. She finished with a call to make Bangla one of the UN's official languages. ¶4. Netherlands Prime Minister Balkenende addressed the financial crisis but argued that it should not displace other issues like human rights and climate change. He singled out Iran for its human rights violations, stating "we are concerned about the worsening human rights situation and violent crackdown on popular protests". He also addressed the recently revealed Iranian nuclear facility stating that it was a "major challenge to international peace and security, to regional stability and to the nonproliferation regime". Slovakian Foreign Minister Lajack also addressed Iran's nuclear program, stating his government was gravely concerned at Iran's continued defiance of international obligations. He condemned the DPRK's nuclear test and called on it to join the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. He addressed climate change and the economic crisis. Slovakia supports Security Council expansion. ¶5. Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Gheit spoke about the impact of the financial crisis and the importance of collective work on climate change. He stated that Egypt was "unsatisfied with the politicization of human rights issues" and advocated a draft resolution on freedom of expression. He called for all Middle Eastern countries to subject all nuclear facilities to IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards. Gheit pushed for renewed negotiations on the Israel-Palestine issue stating that "Israel has shown lack of the necessary political will" to engage in negotiations and "the international community should put forward the formula for the final settlement to the conflict." He called on Israel to freeze settlement activity and said that the 1967 borders should be recognized in any settlement. On Sudan, he hoped that "unity becomes the first and the most attractive option for all Sudanese". ¶6. Foreign Affairs Minister Dudeh of Jordan also addressed climate change and the economic crisis. He echoed Egypt's USUN NEW Y 00000889 002 OF 002 position on Israel - Palestine. He was critical of Israel for denying Palestinian self determination and advocated for a two state solution. He called for recovery of Syrian and Lebanese occupied territories. Dudeh stated that Israel continues build settlements and the United Nations has the responsibility to push for negotiations and peace. Dudeh called on the Human Rights Council (Gladstone) Gaza fact finding report to be implemented. On Iraq, he advocated peace and was opposed to "external interference in internal affairs." Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Fihri addressed the Arab - Israeli issue, stating "the peace process is the only viable option." He called for the creation of a Palestine state, and echoed Jordan's position on the territorial integrity of Iraq. ¶7. Burundian second vice-president Ntisezerana focused on regional issues that are affecting the Great Lakes region, such as recent conflicts, land disputes and population growth. He spoke about peace in Burundi and how the "last rebel group has laid down its arms" and are being integrated into the military and government. He addressed the upcoming elections this year, improving health care and appealed to the developed countries for aid towards the Millennium Development Goals. He pointed out that twenty five Burundian peacekeepers had been killed in Somalia and asked that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) mandate be modified to allow offensive actions. ¶8. Samoan Prime Minister Malielegaoi, Tuvalu Prime Minister Ielemia and Tongan Prime Minister Sevele addressed climate change and the effects of the economic crisis. They warned that without efforts to halt rising sea levels, their islands may cease to exist. All were in favor of Security Council expansion. Tonga PM Sevele looked forward to the "renewed interest in United States engagement with Pacific Island countries." ¶9. Kyrgyz Republic Prime Minister Chudnov addressed Central Asian issues such as the war in Afghanistan, environmental and ecological problems and water use. Thailand pushed for liberalizing trade and the positions that the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) support. Both Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Manning and St. Kitts and Nevis's Prime Minister Douglas addressed climate change, the economic crisis and crime in the Caribbean basin. Lesotho Prime Minister Mosisili spoke of the need to expand the Security Council and against the embargo of Cuba. Lao Foreign Affairs Minister Sisoulith spoke against cluster munitions, citing how much his country has suffered from Vietnam war era weapons. He also spoke against the Cuban embargo. RICE