U.N. GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES (SEPTEMBER 24, PM):

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 USUN NEW YORK 000997 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO UNGA VE SI GY CS PA TZ LG MI, IZ, GA, MV, GT, HA, SG, FI, ZA, HR, RM, MT, GG SUBJECT: U.N. GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES (SEPTEMBER 24, PM): CHAVEZ CRITICIZES THE UNITED STATES; GEORGIA CONDEMNS RUSSIAN WAR-MONGERING ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The afternoon session of the 2nd day of the UNGA General Debate on September 24 opened with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticizing the United States, dissecting the intentions of President Obama, and extolling the merits of socialism. Latin American leaders from Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Paraguay condemned the coup in Honduras. Many leaders called for reforming the United Nations and increasing the size and permanent membership of the Security Council. Many leaders focused on the urgent need to address climate change, the Maldives claiming the issue as a matter of survival. Slovenia and Guyana called on the United Nations to organize a new Bretton Woods conference. The session closed with the President of Georgia delivering an impassioned condemnation of Russia for its role in provoking the conflict between the two countries, and thanking the United States for its support. ¶2. (U) Speakers included heads of state and foreign ministers from Venezuela, Slovenia, Guyana, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Tanzania, Latvia, Malawi, Iraq, Gambia, Maldives, Guatemala, Haiti, Senegal, Finland, Zambia, Croatia, Marshall Islands, Malta, and Georgia. Full text of statements available on at www.un.org/ga/64/generaldebate, video archives are at www.un.org/webcast/2009.html. END SUMMARY ¶3. (U) VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez began by promoting a new film by Oliver Stone, "South of the Border." Chavez encouraged everyone to see the film "if the capitalist theater monopolies do not keep it from being shown." Chavez extolled the unique virtues of Bolivarian Socialism and at one point complimented President Obama and said he prayed God would protect him. After receiving a large round of applause for this comment, Chavez added that the dais no longer smelled like sulfur, but now smelled like hope. However, Chavez asked several times, "How many 'Obamas' are there?" He explained that there are, in fact, two "Obamas" - the one who spoke at the United Nations and called for international cooperation - and another who built bases in Colombia and maintained an embargo on Cuba. He asked the Obama who spoke at the United Nations to "come over to the socialist side" and "join the axis of evil." Chavez condemned the coup in Honduras and claimed that it was initiated by the Pentagon, which he said operates independently around the world outside the control of the U.S. Government. Chavez concluded by saying that capitalism caused climate change and that the world needs an entirely new economic system. ¶4. (U) SLOVENIA: President Danilo Turk stated that the world needs a comprehensive strategy to address climate change and that steps must be taken in unison, but differentiated for each state. He called on the United Nations and the G-20 to lead the way to financial stability and insisted the Bretton Woods organizations be adjusted. Turk also described four issues facing the United Nations: 1) structural change (especially Security Council reform),2) a strengthened U.N. role in peacekeeping operations, 3) disarmament/non-proliferation, and, 4) the United Nations, continued role as a forum for international consultations. He described the situation in Afghanistan as an example of a crisis where the United Nations can play a vital role. ¶5. (U) GUYANA: President Bharat Jagdeo said the global financial crisis hit small Caribbean nations harder than most because of their dependence on commodities. He called for a global commission to restructure debt and for the United Nations to hold a new Bretton Woods conference. Jagdeo also warned that the world must stop deforestation now, as opposed to waiting until 2030. USUN NEW Y 00000997 002 OF 005 ¶6. (U) COSTA RICA: President Oscar Arias Sanchez addressed the evils of defense spending and the international arms trade. He said that money and human resources currently spent on defense should be refocused on global problems, such as climate change. He claimed that national militaries serve no purpose other than to suppress their own people. Sanchez said that developing countries in Latin America face three national challenges: strengthening their democracies, arms reduction, and creating a new international order to combat climate change. Arias said that Latin America's civil structure is hollow and needs to build democratic institutions. ¶7. (U) PARAGUAY: President Fernando Mendez of Paraguay claimed that war and defense spending enrich developed nations but harm developing nations. Mendez described the need for a new economic world order that would strengthen small economies, develop democratic institutions, end criminal aggression against the environment, find peaceful solutions to conflicts, and eliminate gender discrimination. He also called for the end of the United States' Cuba embargo condemned the coup in Honduras. Mendez concluded by expressing his fears of an arms race in Latin America. ¶8. (U) TANZANIA: President Jakaya Kikwete pressed for agricultural technology assistance for Africa as a means to address climate change. He extolled the virtues of youth employment programs in Africa, noting that employed young people are less inclined to engage in violent acts. He commended progress (but wanted to see more) on the MDG's and publicized the African Leaders Malaria Alliance. He expressed support for a two state solution for Israel and Palestine and asked that the people of Western Sahara be allowed to decide their own future. He called for Security Council reform and asked for assistance with Tanzania,s refugee problem and support for developing democratic institutions in Africa. ¶9. (U) LATVIA: President Valdis Zatlers said the world must focus on the three crisis "E's" (energy, economy, and environment) and the three crisis "F's" (finance, food, and fuel). He said that countries must not act strictly in self-interest and extolled the virtues of the MDG's. Zatlers stated that each nation should contribute to the fight against climate change according to its own capabilities. He called for continued support for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the Middle East. He reiterated Latvia's support for Georgia and complained about human rights abuses in Iran after the elections. Zatlers reaffirmed support for the Geneva Convention and the International Criminal Court. He reminded the General Assembly of the Human Rights Council review in 2011 and said it would be a good time to strengthen the organization. He also called for Security Council reform and said that the United Nations must prioritize its budget and make it more transparent and disciplined. ¶10. (U) MALAWI: President Bingu Mutharika called for strengthened multilateralism and expressed the need to reform the United Nations (particularly the Security Council),spur international action on food security, and bolster international cooperation in addressing climate change. Mutharika closed by calling for a global dialogue on democracy and its institutions. ¶11. (U) IRAQ: President Jala Talabani spoke about political and economic progress in Iraq. He requested that nations currently hosting Iraqi refugees enable and encourage them to return home where they would be welcomed. He said that the USUN NEW Y 00000997 003 OF 005 real threat to Iraq is external, and requested a Security Council investigation into the August 19 Baghdad bombings. Talabani asked that the current Security Council resolutions against Iraq be removed and that the United Nations increase its engagement. Talabani registered support for the struggle of the Palestinian people and called for the Middle East to become a nuclear-weapon free zone. ¶12. (U) GAMBIA: President Yahya Jammeh blamed Africa's problems on large western multi-national corporations and debt. He said that the lack of development in Africa is not Africa's fault and that Africa can do little to help itself. Jammeh cautioned that there will be consequences if the situation does not improve. He called for speedy resolution of the plight of the Palestinians, Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations, lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba, support for Morocco's plan in Western Sahara, and Security Council reform. ¶13. (U) MALDIVES: President Mohamed Nasheed focused his attention on climate change, emphasizing that the matter is of dire consequence for the Maldives population. Nasheed called for aggressive measures to be taken at the upcoming summit in Copenhagen, warning that, "to do otherwise would be to sign a death warrant for the 300 thousand Maldivians." The President declared his intention to have the Maldives become carbon neutral. Nasheed spoke about the importance of freedom and thanked the international community for its support in helping the Maldives to become a democracy. Reminding the audience that he had once been a political prisoner himself, Nasheed asked that leaders release all political prisoners. The President promoted efforts to rid the world of terrorism, while suggesting that such efforts not be done at the expense of people's democratic freedoms. ¶14. (U) GUATEMALA: The President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom Caballeros, focused his speech on the financial crisis and effects on his already poor country, complaining about the significant decline in foreign remittances and a surge in unemployment. He commented that the ongoing drought and the recent financial crisis have left millions of Guatemalans in a vulnerable state. Colom mentioned some of the basic efforts by his country to tackle poverty and malnutrition and noted the challenges faced by Guatemala in its war against organized crime and narco-trafficking. He cited a seven-fold increase in cocaine seizures as evidence of more effective policing. Raising the matter of the recent murder of the esteemed lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg (Note: Rosenberg produced a video found post-mortem suggesting the President and others would likely murder him),Colom said "there will be justice" and expressed his determination to find the truth through an independent investigation. Guatemala offered support for Honduras and the ousted Zelaya government, and noted that "President Zelaya needs to return so elections can be legitimate." ¶15. (U) HAITI: President Rene Garcia Caballeros addressed poverty as the central area of concern for Haiti, citing a shortfall of development aid necessary to create infrastructure that can withstand natural disaster. The President shared his belief that the matter of alleviating poverty through sustainable development will have spillover effects in the realm of security, declaring that "the real vector for peace and security is development." Caballeros noted that the work of MINUSTAH (the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) should be expanded in order to build upon peace and poverty elimination and greater development. The President expressed condemnation for the USUN NEW Y 00000997 004 OF 005 coup in Honduras and railed against the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba. ¶16. (U) SENEGAL: President Abdoulaye Wade spoke about the financial crisis, development issues, poverty and food security. Wade declared that "we are condemned to prevail," despite the challenges facing developing nations including his own and urged leaders to reform international institutions to better serve struggling nations. The President advocated for an eventual expansion of the G8 and G20, but also called for a "shadow G20" comprised of experts from around the world. He asserted that food security requires a new and sustainable approach, and suggested that the African food fund be entrusted to the World Bank. The President stressed the importance of young people in raising awareness and promoting changes, particularly on environmental issues. Wade praised the goal of creating the Great Green Wall stretching from Dakar to Djibouti. He commended President Obama for his support of the two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, while contending that "Israeli illegal activity is counter-productive." Wade expressed support for African Unity and described the importance of his country's role as OIC chair in connecting with Muslim Ummah (community). ¶17. (U) FINLAND: President Tarja Halonen discussed the need for measures addressing climate change to be fair and balanced and offered his hope that the Copenhagen Summit will be a success. She contended that climate change, gender equality, and food production are most critical to those living in poverty. She noted that the majority of the impoverished and hungry in the world are women and expressed concern that climate change will further reduce global food production. Halonen urged leaders to take additional steps in promoting disarmament and non-proliferation. ¶18. (U) ZAMBIA: President Rupiah Bwezani Banda stated the financial crisis was taking a huge toll on his country and recommended that reforms be enacted to prevent future such events. The President strongly urged leaders to focus on climate change, pointing out the devastating effects of desertification and drought, while taking into account the special needs of developing countries. Banda reiterated the call of other African leaders in urging that the UN Security Council be expanded to include additional permanent and non-permanent members. Banda criticized the ongoing U.S. economic embargo against Cuba as unfair and unjustified and said that now is the "time for it to be lifted." ¶19. (U) CROATIA: President Stjepan Mesic stated that with respect to the world,s problems today, "the consequences are always global." He recommended that a new world order be put in place to tackle the economic situation and that member states create a shared social and economic model. Mesic registered support for a dialogue between civilizations and called for the global community to fight discrimination. ¶20. (U) MARSHALL ISLANDS: President Tomeing echoed the sentiment of other island nations, calling on member states to take urgent steps to assure that global carbon emissions peak no later than 2015. He stressed the moral obligation for countries to seize the opportunity presented to them in Copenhagen and expressed hope that the United States will increase its participation in the debate. On the issue of non-proliferation, the President said that he was encouraged by the session led earlier the same day in the Security Council by President Obama. Tomeing lamented nuclear weapons production, citing the testing of dozens of bombs in the Marshall Islands as a continuing disaster for his country. USUN NEW Y 00000997 005 OF 005 The Marshall Islands also commented on its special relationship with the United States and praised its soldiers that have fought with U.S. forces. ¶21. (U) MALTA: Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi addressed the importance of climate change and called for leaders to embrace a global solution. The PM noted that Malta plays an intermediary role between Africa and Europe and reflected on the challenges of the many African refugees and asylum seekers who show up on their shores. While Malta promises to "honor our international obligations vis-avis genuine refugees", the PM asked the U.N. to take greater steps in dealing with illegal immigration "so as to find solutions to a humanitarian problem that countries like Malta and other Mediterranean countries are facing in an unprecedented manner." He reminded delegates of Malta's long historical commitment to the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. ¶22. (U) GEORGIA: President Mikheil Saakashvili gave an impassioned speech condemning Russia for its military actions in Georgia and accusing it of the lion share of wrongdoing for the hostilities that took place between the two countries. The President bemoaned the hundreds killed and wounded and claimed that Russian brutality had gone unpunished. He pleaded with leaders to recognize that Russia,s actions are typical and that they "will do it again, unless they are stopped." He declared that Russia,s intervention had been against international norms and law. Saakashvilli offered thanks to the U.S. for its support during the conflict as well as to Vice-President Biden for his visit to Georgia this past summer. Saakashvili noted that he shared President Obama,s assessment, that "new walls should not divide us." He declared that his country will prevail and claimed that, "Georgia is winning the peace." Towards the end of the speech, President Saakashvilli praised the assassinated human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya, referring to her as a personal hero. Rice