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DE RUCNDT #0911/01 2802326
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P 062326Z OCT 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5066

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000911 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PBTS ECON AORC UNGA
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA GENERAL DEBATE MARKED BY CALLS FOR 
SOLIDARITY 
 
REF: USUN 831 
 
SBU - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The 63rd UN General Assembly (UNGA) General 
Debate took place September 23-29, with 111 Member States 
addressing the Assembly.  The overarching theme was a call 
for collective action to address the global financial, food, 
environment and energy crises and reinvigorate efforts to 
meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  Most speakers 
emphasized the need for poverty eradication and UN reform -- 
whether in response to the PGA's call for Members to do so or 
because those issues aligned with their own priorities is 
unclear -- but offered few concrete proposals to address 
these issues.  Despite recent global events in Georgia and 
elsewhere, the tone of the Debate remained relatively 
conciliatory, with predictable exceptions.  Some Member 
States lauded U.S. development assistance and peace-keeping 
efforts, while the usual crowd (i.e., Iran, Venezuela, the 
DPRK, and Cuba) delivered anti-U.S. vitriol.  President of 
the General Assembly (PGA) d'Escoto delivered markedly 
toned-down opening and closing remarks to the Debate 
following his incendiary remarks to open the 63rd General 
Assembly (Reftel).  It remains to be seen if the relatively 
balanced and collaborative tone of the General Debate augurs 
for significant progress on key issues as the 63rd UNGA 
committee meetings commence.  END SUMMARY. 
 
WHA:  GROWING DISCONTENT WITH CAPITALISM 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) While most speakers throughout the General Debate 
touched upon the financial crisis, none were as critical as 
the Central and Latin American speakers.  The first speaker, 
Brazil's President Lula, set the tone with a impassioned call 
that "We must not allow the burden of the boundless greed of 
a few to be shouldered by all."  The Central and Latin 
American leaders sharply criticized capitalist policies, 
which they viewed as favoring speculation and directly 
causing the financial crisis.  They called for greater 
oversight of the markets and for more socially-responsible 
economic policies.  Immigration was a central theme, with 
calls for greater protection of immigrants' rights and 
reunification of families split by immigration laws, as well 
as open borders for migrant workers.  Cuba labeled the United 
States a "threat to international security," and accused it 
of legalizing torture and holding innocent persons in 
"concentration camps."  Opening by stating that "the religion 
of neoliberalism has failed," Venezuela chastised the United 
States for its "fundamentalist" leadership and "neoliberal" 
policies, which the speaker said had resulted in the ruling 
class swindling millions of "brothers and sisters."  Bolivia 
accused the United States of interfering in its internal 
affairs.  Without referring explicitly to the United States, 
Ecuador blasted the alleged use of torture and clandestine 
imprisonment of suspected terrorists, stressing that the 
fight against terrorism could not be used as an excuse to 
disregard international law.  Perhaps most surprising was 
Honduras' intervention, which was markedly more critical of 
capitalist policies than in previous years, making Honduras 
yet another at least rhetorical convert to the Hugo 
Chavez-led "social democracy" movement in the region.  All of 
the Caribbean states echoed financial concerns but also 
called for urgent international action on climate change to 
which they attribute the devastating hurricanes that have 
ravaged their small island states. 
 
WESTERN EUROPE:  UNITED UNDER FRENCH EU LEADERSHIP 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (U) The Western European speakers focused on several 
common themes, calling for greater international cooperation 
in countering the effects of the food, financial, and energy 
crises and of climate change.  They emphasized the need for 
increased efforts to achieve peace and stability in the 
Middle East, Africa, and the Caucasus, expressing their 
support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 
More than speakers from any other region, the Western 
European leaders underscored the importance of respecting 
human rights and called upon Member States to adhere to the 
principles outlined in the Universal Declaration on Human 
Rights, with Spain and the Netherlands calling for universal 
elimination of the death penalty.  In one of the strongest 
speeches of the General Debate, French President Nicolas 
Sarkozy asserted Europe's desire to be a world leader in many 
global issues.  Notably, he proposed the establishment of a 
continent-wide "economic space" to foster a partnership 
between Europe and Russia.  The UK solicited global support 
for the United States as it worked to stabilize its financial 
markets. 
 
EASTERN EUROPE:  DEBATING RUSSIAN INFLUENCE 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Unsurprisingly, many eastern European countries voiced 
concerns about Russian activity in the region.  Georgian 
President Saakashvili pointed out the global security 
implications of the conflict over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 
 In one of the most well written speeches of the General 
Debate, the Lithuanian President said, "Nations of the former 
Soviet Union still have to fight against the revisionism 
seeping down from the Kremlin towers."  Estonia also 
denounced Russia by name.  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei 
Lavrov justified his country's actions in Georgia, by 
indicting the failed "uni-polar" approach of the 
anti-terrorism coalition.  Russia defended the concept of 
having spheres of influence.   Speakers frequently asked the 
international community to support their country's view of 
regional security and territorial disputes, including, 
Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and Nagorno-Karabakh. 
Nevertheless, almost all of the eastern European countries 
called for greater regional and multilateral cooperation to 
overcome the "frozen conflicts" that create instability and 
endanger international security. 
 
THE MIDDLE EAST:  IRAQ, THE PEACE PROCESS, AND LEBANON 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶5. (U) Stability and peace in Iraq remain a concern, with 
several Middle Eastern countries expressing support for 
continued efforts to improve security and restore Iraq's 
regional role.  Iraq called on the international community to 
bolster its efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen 
diplomatic missions in Iraq.  Regarding the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, many countries urged a 
peaceful, comprehensive solution to creating a Palestinian 
state.  Israel encouraged both to live "side-by-side" in 
peace and the Palestinian territories advocated a two-state 
solution, using the 1967 borders.  On Lebanon, several 
countries lauded the elections and subsequent creation of a 
national unity government.   Lebanon requested the 
international community stop Israel's threats of war against 
it.  Of a more flagrant nature were remarks by Iran and 
Syria.  Iran argued that Iraq was attacked under false 
pretenses and the United States opposes other nations' 
progress.  Syria blamed the United States for creating an 
"abominable" humanitarian situation in Iraq and questioned 
the efficacy of the Annapolis talks. 
 
AFRICA:  FOOD AND ENERGY CRISES, CLIMATE CHANGE, UN REFORM 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The main topics African countries highlighted were the 
effects of the following: the food and energy crises on 
poverty reduction, food subsidies on developing-country 
exports, and climate change on food and energy shortages. 
Ugandan President Museveni noted that high food prices 
benefited African farmers.  Several countries also called for 
ending the U.S. "embargo" against Cuba and some supported 
Taiwan participation in UN activity.  A large number called 
for reform of the Security Council, often with specific 
references to the AU position advocating two permanent seats 
with veto power and five non-permanent seats.  Noteworthy 
remarks include: South Africa calling on Zimbabwe to finalize 
its power-sharing agreement; Mauritania justifying its 
position following the August coup d'etat; Somalia requesting 
assistance from the international community to combat piracy; 
and Senegal insisting that extremism and intolerance were 
contrary to Islam.  There were several interventions of a 
particularly objectionable nature.  Zimbabwe accused the U.S. 
of committing "genocide" in Iraq.  Sudan insisted that Darfur 
was its responsibility and "foreign conspiracies that 
threaten peace," were, in fact, seeking regime change. 
Eritrea claimed that the United States deliberately fomented 
conflict to exert its control through "misguided and 
domineering policies." 
 
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: 
COUNTERING TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7. (U) Many speakers highlighted the need to fight terrorism 
with political will, popular support and economic strategy. 
Several countries called for increased investment in 
Afghanistan's development, describing how Afghan conflict 
affects the region.   The Indian Prime Minister welcomed 
democracy in Pakistan and said his country was committed to 
working on the dispute over Jammu Kashmir.   Afghan President 
Karzai called Pakistan's elections "promising," while 
highlighting border security issues in the context of 
international terrorism.  Pakistani President Zardari 
highlighted the price Pakistan has paid for the war against 
terror and declared that a democratic Pakistan is reaching 
the national consensus necessary to confront and defeat the 
 
 
terrorists.  The SCA countries also argued for prioritization 
of progress toward the MDGs, particularly the need for water 
and investment in energy infrastructure. 
 
EAST ASIA:  FOCUS ON ECONOMICS, DPRK AND CLIMATE CHANGE 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶8. (U) Asian countries discussed the deleterious impacts of 
the global food, energy and financial crises on their 
economies.  Many called for deeper regional integration to 
temper the turbulence of global financial markets.  Australia 
offered its own suggestions for addressing the financial 
crisis.  China proclaimed its development success the result 
of reforms and opening its economy - trends it pledged to 
continue.  Japan, which is preparing a draft resolution, and 
Australia reiterated calls for the total elimination of 
nuclear weapons.  They were joined by others from the region 
in focusing on the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear 
issue.  Japan, Korea, Australia and Cambodia were among the 
countries urging the DPRK to uphold its commitments and 
continue progress through the Six-Party Talks.  The DPRK, 
meanwhile, justified its recent freeze on dismantling its 
nuclear facilities by blaming the "U.S. insistence on 
unilateral inspection" which it claimed violated its 
sovereignty and fell outside of agreements reached through 
the Six-Party Talks.  The DPRK lashed out against the United 
States as "the worst peace breaker and human rights violator 
in the world," and blamed the Republic of Korea and Japan for 
failing to redress historical grievances.  Pacific island 
nations appealed for countries to redouble efforts to address 
climate change and rising sea levels - which they maintain 
threaten the security of their people - and sought support 
for a GA resolution calling for Security Council review. 
Burma claimed that "unjust" sanctions are preventing it from 
becoming the region's rice bowl and a reliable energy source. 
Wolff