Cablegate: 61st Unga: Second Committee Adopts Four

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DE RUCNDT #2219 3401702
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R 061702Z DEC 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0871
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1337

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002219

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ETRD EFIN SENV UNGA IS LN
SUBJECT: 61ST UNGA: SECOND COMMITTEE ADOPTS FOUR
RESOLUTIONS: NOVEMBER 22, 2006

REF: STATE 190251

1. Summary: On November 22, the UN's Second Committee on
economic and financial affairs passed four resolutions,
including one condemning the Israeli destruction of oil tanks
in Lebanon. Four countries joined the US to vote No on the
Lebanese resolution, with the EU members/applicants among the
138 countries voting Yes. The Committee passed resolutions
by consensus on El Nino, capital outflows from developing
countries (IFS), and the UN Institute for Training and
Research(UNITAR), all without program budget implications.
End Summary.

Anti-Israel Resolution on Lebanon
---------------------------------

2. The Second Committee adopted resolution
A/61/C.2/L23/rev.1, "oil slick on Lebanese shores," by a vote
of 138 Yes, 5 No (US), 1 Abstention, and 38 not voting.
Voting against the resolution, besides the US, were Canada,
Australia, Palau, and Israel. In the resolution, the General
Assembly (GA) expressed deep concern over the destruction by
the Israeli Air Force of Lebanese oil storage tanks linked to
an electric power plant. The GA also called on Israel to
compensate Lebanon.

3. In its Explanation of Position, Israel said the resolution
was a blatant attempt to politicize an environmental issue
and to paint Israel as an unjust aggressor. The resolution
made no reference to environmental damage in Northern Israel
caused by Hezbollah rockets. Canada explained its No vote by
saying that despite its concerns about the oil spill, the GA
was not an appropriate forum for addressing issues of legal
liability or compensation. Lebanon closed with a statement in
which it claimed its real intent was to send Israel a message
from the international community that the environment could
not be a target in this conflict, and then attacked Israel
for turning this resolution into a "political debate."

4. USDEL, using reftel EOV, called the resolution, "one-sided
and unbalanced" because the resolution did not acknowledge
that Hezbollah had provoked the conflict with its July 12
incursion into Israel.

Other Resolutions
-----------------

5. The Committee adopted three other resolutions by
consensus, none of which had program budget implications.
A/61/C.2/L41, on the international financial system and
development (IFS), emphasized the importance of financial
stability for development. A/61/C.2/L45, a biennial
resolution, called for international cooperation to reduce
the impact of the El Nino phenomenon. A/61/C.2/L38 was on
the operations of the UN Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR).
BOLTON

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