VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1191/01 3542102
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 192102Z DEC 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5561

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001191 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF KPAL UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA TAKES ACTION ON CONFLICT DIAMONDS, SPORT FOR 
PEACE, PALESTINIAN ASSISTANCE, LEGAL EMPOWERMENT OF THE 
POOR, AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
¶1. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted by consensus 10 
resolutions and a text on December 11.  The resolutions and 
report were as follows: U.S. co-sponsored "The Role of 
Diamonds in Fueling Conflict" (A/63/L.52), "Sport as a Means 
to Promote Education, Health, Development and Peace" 
(A/63/L.51), U.S. co-sponsored "Humanitarian Assistance and 
Reconstruction of Liberia" (A/63/L.45), U.S. co-sponsored 
"Strengthening Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, 
Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Indian 
Ocean Tsunami Disaster" (A/63/L.47), U.S. co-sponsored 
"Safety and Security of Humanitarian Personnel and Protection 
of United Nations Personnel" (A/63/L.48), U.S. co-sponsored 
"Strengthening of Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian 
Assistance of the United Nations" (A/63/L.49), U.S. 
co-sponsored "Assistance to the Palestinian People" 
(A/63/L.50), U.S. co-sponsored "Strengthening the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Disaster Relief and Assistance 
of the United Nations, including Economic Assistance" 
(A/63/L.53), U.S. co-sponsored "Legal Empowerment of the Poor 
and Eradication of Poverty" (A/63/L.25/Rev.1), "Cooperation 
between the United Nations and Portuguese-Speaking Countries" 
(A/63/L.41), and a text on "Zone of Peace and Cooperation of 
the South Atlantic" (A/63/525).  Below are highlights from 
delegates' Explanations of Position (EOP) and general 
statements. 
 
Conflict Diamonds 
----------------- 
 
¶2. The Arab and African representatives' EOP's commended the 
Kimberley Process (KP) as a valuable tool to address conflict 
prevention and the illicit trade of diamonds but did not name 
Israel as Vice-Chair or note Zimbabwe's difficulty in KP 
implementation.  Morocco on behalf of the African Group 
referred to the KP as a vital instrument of conflict 
prevention and deterrence but did not name the Chair or 
Vice-Chair of the process (nor did the Russian 
representative). The Botswanan and Angolan representatives 
named Namibia as Chair but did not name Israel as Vice-Chair. 
 Syria, waiting until the end of the morning session, said 
that it only withheld calling a vote out of deference to "our 
brothers in the African continent" but argued that Israel 
should not be Vice-Chair as its diamond merchants are also 
reserve military officers that "fabricate" conflict in other 
countries and recruit children into armed conflict. (Syria, 
along with Iran, Qatar, and Libya, had earlier upheld 
negotiations due to the resolution's naming of Israel as 
Vice-Chair.  They only conceded after the Indian Deputy 
Permanent Representative chose to table the resolution, 
despite his attempts to seek compromise language.) 
 
¶3. In contrast, western representatives noted Israel as 
Vice-Chair and called on Zimbabwe to address challenges to KP 
implementation.  France on behalf of the EU said that it is 
not in the participants' interest to politicize the issue, 
and regretted that the resolution did not mention the 
challenges faced by Zimbabwe in KP implementation or include 
a more positive statement on Namibia as Chair and Israel as 
Vice-Chair.  Within its intervention, the United States (as 
well as Canada on behalf of Australia and New Zealand) 
welcomed Israel as Vice-Chair and raised the issue of 
Zimbabwe's illicit diamond trade. 
 
Sport for Development and Peace 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4. Several delegates highlighted harnessing sports as a means 
to promote development and peace under a dedicated agenda 
item considered biannually.  Interventions were robust and 
welcomed the Secretary-General's re-mandating of his Special 
Advisor on Sport for Peace and Development and work program 
that the consensus resolution then endorsed.  The German 
representative noted in particular the importance of the 
participation of girls and women, as well as sports as a 
means to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 
Kazakhstan noted that its Parliament would authorize 
legislation ensuring equal access to physical training and 
sport. 
 
Security and Safety of Humanitarian Personnel 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Pakistan and Singapore recalled their efforts to ensure 
the security and safety of humanitarian personnel.  Pakistan 
raised the need to consolidate the location of the various UN 
personnel working throughout Islamabad.  Singapore bemoaned 
that a few delegations refused to include references to the 
Zacklin and Brahimi panels and asserted that their omission 
may signal to the Secretary-General that the GA rejects the 
panels' findings.  Syria reiterated its interpretation of 
 
 
 
"jurisdiction" to include the "occupied territories." 
 
Assistance to the Palestinians 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. The Palestinian Observer Mission representative said that 
acceptance of the resolution by consensus reaffirmed the GA's 
commitment to the Palestinians and the realization of their 
inalienable rights.  He added that the assistance also 
reaffirmed the Palestinians' existence and right to live a 
life of dignity. 
 
Humanitarian Assistance and Natural Disasters 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. Within its intervention, the United States (as well as 
France on behalf of the EU) expressed support for the 
resolution but added that they withheld co-sponsorship due to 
the late introduction of revisions.  Canada also said that 
they lamented the last minute changes and added that the 
study mentioned in OP 28 would place an undue burden on the 
Secretariat.  Switzerland agreed and stated that submitting 
the resolution for consideration while affording so little 
time for review violated UN Rule of Procedure 78, which 
states that no delegation can discuss in or put to a vote a 
resolution before the GA unless copies have been circulated 
to all delegations no later than the day preceding the 
meeting.  (Despite coming to a consensus on December 5, the 
G77 made changes to OP28 the night before the December 11 
plenary.) 
Khalilzad