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RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 1913
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0167
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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". 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000886  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶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 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000886  003 OF 003 
 
 
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