Cablegate: Unga Second Committee: Palestinian Resources And

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DE RUCNDT #1062 3252108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 212108Z NOV 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3169
INFO RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0542
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1680
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 1117
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2947
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHFR/USMISSION UNESCO PARIS PRIORITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001062

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ETTC KPAL UNGA IS
SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: PALESTINIAN RESOURCES AND
UNILATERAL SANCTIONS

REF: A. STATE 157045
B. STATE 157330

1. Summary. The UN General Assembly's Second Committee
(Economic and Financial) adopted four resolutions on November
16. Per reftel instructions, the U.S. called for a vote and
voted against resolutions on the permanent sovereignty of
Palestinian natural resources and unilateral economic
measures against developing countries. The U.S. joined
consensus on resolutions on information and communication
technologies for development and the 2009 International Year
of Astronomy. Vote counts are included below. End summary.

Palestinian Resources
---------------------

2. The committee first took action on resolution
A/C.2/62/L.7/Rev.1, submitted under Agenda item 41, entitled:
"Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over
their natural resources." In accordance with Ref A, the U.S.
called for a vote and the resolution was adopted
143-7(U.S.)-5. The U.S. did not speak, per reftel
instructions, but Canada explained its "no" vote by calling
the resolution unbalanced. Israel called the resolution "a
disturbing reminder of the colossal gap between this body and
results on the ground," and called on the Palestinians to
focus more on caring for their own natural resources instead
of fighting Israel and amongst themselves.

3. Portugal, speaking for the EU, stated that while they
voted in favor of the resolution, they believe that the issue
should be addressed in the context of the ongoing Middle East
peace negotiations and that the resolution should not
prejudice the outcome of those negotiations. For its part,
Palestine thanked member states for their support and called
Israel's statements "baffling." After the vote, six
countries (El Salvador, Uganda, Peru, Belize, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and Georgia) all explained that due to tardiness
they had missed the vote, but had intended to vote in favor.
The chair stated that the vote would be amended as such, but
the secretariat later confirmed that these statements would
be noted in the record of the meeting but the final vote
count would not be amended.

Unliateral Economic Sanctions
-----------------------------

4. The committee also took action on resolution A/C.2/62/L.8
entitled, "Unilateral economic measures as a means of
political and economic coercion against developing
countries," submitted under Agenda item 52 (a), Macroeconomic
policy questions: international trade and development. In
accordance with Ref B, the U.S. called for a vote and the
resolution was adopted 107-1(U.S.)-51. Portugal, on behalf
of the EU, explained that it chose to abstain because
"unilateral economic measures are admissible in certain
circumstances in particular when necessary in order to fight
terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, or to uphold respect for human rights,
democracy, the rule of law and good governance." Portugal
said the EU "is committed to using sanctions as part of an
integrated, comprehensive policy approach." No other
countries spoke or referenced U.S. policy, so the U.S. did
not deliver any remarks, per reftel instructions.

ICT for Development and the
International Year of Astronomy
-------------------------------

5. The committee adopted two more resolutions by consensus:
A/C.2/62/L.35, submitted under Agenda item 51, entitled:
"Information and communication technologies for development,"
and A/C.2/62/L.36, entitled: "International Year of
Astronomy, 2009." The latter, originating from an earlier
decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, was submitted under Agenda item 56
(b), Globalization and interdependence: science and
technology for development.
Khalilzad

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