The Marxist-Leninist Weekly

Edmonton, September 27, 2014

Harper Government's Negation of First Nations' Rights
• Canada Sets Lowest Standard at First
World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
- Matthew Coon Come -

69th United Nations General Assembly Opens in New York
• Demands to Address Questions of War, Peace and People's Well-Being Confront Self-Serving Aims of
United States and Big Powers of Old Europe

Calls to Reform UN and to Foster Development,
Peace and Security on the Basis of UN Principles
• Venezuela Highlights Need for UN Reform and
Regional Concerns of Latin America and Caribbean
• Argentina Calls for Reform of International Finance System
• Cuba Calls for Deep-Going UN Reform
• Peru Says Development Must Align with Core UN Principles
• Palestine: "Our Grief, Trauma, Anger Will Not
Make Us Abandon Our Humanity"
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea Demands
Security Council Reform
• China Urges UN Assembly to
Break New Ground in Future Development Goals
• Zimbabwe Calls for African Development to Support Ownership of Means of Production that Favours the Poor

No to Canadian Soldiers in Iraq and the Illegal Bombing of Syria for "Regime Change"! No to Canada's Participation in All Wars of Aggression!

The Canadian government announced on Friday October 3 that it would join the U.S.-led international coalition to combat the armed group Islamic State (IS). The government plans on sending six CF-188 Hornet fighter jets with approximately 320 crew members and other personnel; three refuelling aircraft (a CC-150 Polaris and two CP-140 Auroras) and a transport plane, including roughly 280 crew members and other personnel. On September 25, officers from the Valcartier military base said they were ready to be sent to the front to combat IS.

To provide a semblance of prudence and legitimacy to the operation, the Harper government said that Canada would not participate in ground combat and that it would attack IS solely where it has the consent of the relevant government. The announcement makes a mockery of the Parliament that has been called to vote on Monday a fait accompli.

The fraudulent arguments given to justify the aggression cannot hide the fact that the foremost practioners of state terrorism are the U.S. and other members of the aggressive NATO alliance, such as England, France and Canada, as well as Israel. For example, U.S. special forces and drones have been bombing Pakistan without the consent of that government. Canada has also permitted the total integration of its armed forces into the U.S. armed forces. The government claims that by joining the U.S.-led coalition, Canada's national interests will e protected from the danger posed by terrorist organizations, groups which the U.S. and others have created. Support for state terrorism in the name of opposition to terrorism is self-serving indeed.

It is also a fact that Canada is once again joining an action that runs counter to all international norms and UN principles. Based on present UN regulations, when the Security Council remains seized with a matter, a member State of the United Nations is not permitted to go to war. The Security Council remains seized with Resolution 2178 concerning the threat posed by international terrorism and the Council blocked the call for a U.S. invasion of Syria to bring about regime change. However the U.S., Canada and others continue to implement their military aggression against that country under the cover of opposing a dictatorial regime. The countries responsible for this aggression claim that weak and destabilized governments give rise to terrorism and that intervention is needed to stabilize the situation!

It is the U.S. imperialists who do not permit the peoples of the world to establish governments and international arrangements which uphold and promote peace and stability. They use all manner of nefarious means, from death squads to assassinations and outright invasion, to prevent any arrangement in support of nation-building that contributes to the solution of problems in a manner that favours the peoples. It is only when people take firm hold of their destiny and are able to exercise their right to be that problems can be solved.

Far from defending positions of principle, Canada has joined a disinformation campaign asserting that the problem is an extremist Islamic threat and that Canada is one of the areas "at risk." This is to hide the fact that these terrorist groups are the creation of the U.S. imperialists who now have lost control of the situation and to cover up attempts at regime change against governments that refuse to come under U.S. dictate. The real aim of this mission is to control the natural and human resources of all the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the merchants of death who sell arms and participate in war production become rich while social programs are cut and worldwide the peoples suffer from the death and destruction brought on by war, as well as famine, disease and poverty.

The situation requires all peace-loving people to take a position of principle in defence of peace and international security and humanitarian principles. This means demanding that Canada end its participation in U.S. aggression and wars. It means organizing to defeat the Harper government and for an anti-war government that uses all avenues possible to be a force for peace, in particular the United Nations, to block U.S. aggression which can only lead to another world war.

Fight for an Anti-War Government!
No to Canadian Participation in All Wars of Aggression!

Canada Sets Lowest Standard at First World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

Rountable discussion at the first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,
UN Headquarters, New York City, September 22, 2014.

The World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), an historic two-day meeting, began on Sept. 22 at the UN General Assembly in New York.

I and other indigenous leaders attended the meeting with heads of government, ambassadors and ministers. We went there to witness and contribute to a new chapter of our history. We went to celebrate indigenous peoples' human rights and new and renewed commitments by UN members states in international law.

Unfortunately, Canada's prime minister did not attend. Nor did any minister from Stephen Harper's government. Since its election in 2006, the government has refused to acknowledge within Canada that indigenous peoples' collective rights are human rights.

The idea for WCIP arose in 1993 at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria. However, it was indigenous leader Evo Morales who worked to achieve the WCIP. Upon his election as president of Bolivia in 2006, he pledged that he would propose a WCIP. It was the impetus of Morales that resulted in the UN General Assembly officially agreeing to hold a WCIP in 2014.

The highlight of this conference was the General Assembly's adoption by consensus of an outcome document, which includes the commitments of UN member states on a wide range of issues. Key matters are addressed such as indigenous youth, health, language and culture, access to justice, and violence and discrimination against indigenous peoples and individuals, in particular women.

Only Canada Questioned 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent'

The centrepiece of the document is the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared, "I am proud that the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during my first year in office ... that set minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples. ... And we are joining forces with indigenous peoples to reach our common goals."

Regretfully, Canada was the only state in the world that chose to request an explanation of vote. In regard to the outcome document, Canada claimed it cannot accept the two paragraphs on "free, prior and informed consent," which is widely accepted in international law.

Canada implied consent may constitute some kind of absolute "veto," but never explained what the term means. Canada also objected to the commitment "to uphold the principles of the declaration," since it was somehow incompatible with Canada's constitution.

Arguments 'Contradict Own Endorsement of UN Declaration'

These arguments are false. They contradict Canada's own endorsement of the UN declaration in 2010, which concluded: "We are now confident that Canada can interpret the principles expressed in the declaration in a manner that is consistent with our constitution and legal framework."

Canada failed to disclose this conclusion to the General Assembly. In so doing, Canada has misled the General Assembly, member states and indigenous peoples globally. Canada has failed to uphold the honour of the Crown.

Such actions against the human rights of indigenous peoples betray Canada's constitution. Good governance is not possible without respect and protection for indigenous peoples' human rights. Harmonious and cooperative relations -- which is also highlighted in the UN declaration -- require no less.

For years, the Harper government has refused to consult indigenous rights-holders on crucial issues, especially when it involves international forums. This repeated failure to consult violates Canada's duty under Canadian constitutional and international law.

In his opening remarks, Ban declared to indigenous peoples from all regions of the world, "You will always have a home at the United Nations." Yet in our own home in Canada, the federal government refuses to respect democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

For thirty years, the James Bay Crees have always defended and advanced indigenous peoples' rights at the UN and other international forums. And we will continue to achieve success.

Canada's low standards have not and cannot prevent the increasing influence of the UN declaration in Canada and worldwide.

* Matthew Coon Come is the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the chairperson of the Cree Regional Authority. This item was originally published by CBC on September 27. (Photos: TML, S. Brown/WCIP Global Coordinating Committee)

Demands to Address Questions of War, Peace and People's Well-Being Confront Self-Serving Aims of United States and Big Powers of Old Europe

The 69th General Assembly of the United Nations opened in New York on September 16. The theme for this year's General Assembly is "Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda."

One of the high-level meetings that begins each session is the General Debate, held this year from September 24-30, where UN member states addressed the plenary on the theme and raised their particular concerns and preoccupations. Over the course of these six days, 196 speakers comprising all the 193 UN Member States, as well as the Observer State of the Holy See, the Observer State of Palestine and the delegation of the European Union addressed the plenary. They raised issues such as the crisis in Ukraine, the unfolding conflict in Iraq and Syria and the Ebola epidemic affecting African nations, amongst many others.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the debate with the annual report of the organization, pointing out that "Not since the end of the Second World War have there been so many refugees, displaced people and asylum seekers. Never before has the United Nations been asked to reach so many people with emergency food assistance and other life-saving supplies."

One of the main features of the debate at the UN was the divide between the U.S., Big Powers of old Europe and their allies on the one side, and the smaller and developing nations on these questions. The imperialists have a long-established practice of only supporting the UN when it can be manipulated to serve their narrow self-serving purposes.

U.S. imperialist chieftan Barack Obama, gave his address to the Assembly on September 24. He presented the UN's core mission as follows: "The United Nations was founded by 51 countries in 1945 after World War II. In a world still reeling from the territorial aggression of warring nations, the UN committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing better relations among nations, and promoting social progress, living standards, and universal human rights for all mankind."

This rendering is full of weasel words and conspicuously omits any of the UN's guiding principles to ensure that international peace is maintained. Namely, to guarantee that the world is never again subjected to a world war, the principle of the equality and sovereignty of all nations is upheld, and that conflicts between nations are resolved without the use of force. Might does not make right. Obama's corrupt rendering of the UN's purpose foreshadowed the rest of his speech -- that the U.S., in the name of peace and justice, fully intends to violate these principles to justify its striving for world domination.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, Obama spoke self-righteously, attempting to take the moral high ground so as to isolate Russia, despite the U.S. itself being guilty of each accusation it makes against Russia: "This is a vision of the world in which might makes right -- a world in which one nation's borders can be redrawn by another [...] America stands for something different. We believe that right makes might -- that bigger nations should not be able to bully smaller ones, and that people should be able to choose their own future."

Thus Obama defends U.S. exceptionalism by claiming the U.S. is morally unassailable and upholds universal values. Ergo it has the right to decide for itself and also knows what is best for others, and everyone else must submit or else the world will "descend into the destructive rivalries of the past."

Regarding the Islamic State or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Obama tries to frame the discussion as one of religion and bringing all faiths together and opposing sectarianism and extremism. In this way, the discussion of how imperialism has destabilized the world through invasions, drone strikes and other forms of state terror, fomenting civil wars, instigating coups, arming counter-revolutionaries/terrorists/paramilitary groups that are now coming back to haunt the U.S., is to be ignored. "It is time for a new compact among the civilized peoples of this world to eradicate war at its most fundamental source, and that is the corruption of young minds by violent ideology," said Obama.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke on September 25. As someone whose role has been to annex Canada to the United States of North American Monopolies and U.S. imperialist aims, Harper spoke in a similar vein to Obama, saying that the crux of the conflict between peoples today is the civilized versus uncivilized, and that Canada is one of the civilized and therefore morally superior forces:

"The world that Canada strives for is the world that the founders of the United Nations wanted from the beginning, [...] where life, liberty, independence and religious freedom are defended, where human rights and justice are preserved, and where all join in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world." Such a reactionary outlook of inhuman savages versus civilized peoples is anathema to the basis on which the UN was founded.

Harper spent much time discussing the question of health for mothers and their children, where Canada has managed to position itself in various UN initiatives on this matter. Harper did not mention the experience in Canada, where his government scuttled plans for a national day care program and how this has undermined the well-being of mothers and children in Canada. He did not mention that his government refuses to carry out a national enquiry on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls as recommended in May by the UN Special Rapporteur. Nor did he mention how Canada's participation in imperialist wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, as well as its unflinching support for Israel's war crimes, have led to death and destruction for mothers and their children.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking on September 24, took note of the extraordinary "tests of our values and our resolve," in Ukraine, in the Middle East and in dealing with the Ebola outbreak, but primarily, the threat from ISIL. As the U.S., Canada, UK and others undertake another dubious "war on terror," Cameron stated without irony that lessons must be learned from the past, especially from what happened in Iraq 10 years ago. He said the right lessons must be learned, namely to act, but to act differently.

Like Obama, Cameron shirked any responsibility for how imperialism has destabilized the world. He made the issue the defeat of Islamist extremism, while at the same time claiming the problem has nothing to do with Islam, then put the onus on Muslims and their governments worldwide to "reclaim their religion." He called for a new Special Representative on extremism at the UN. He added that the world "should be uncompromising -- using all the means at our disposal, including military force, to hunt down these extremists."

European leaders addressed the UN on September 25, calling for concerted action to confront the events that have turned 2014 into a terrible year, including Russian "aggression" in Ukraine and ISIL.

Regarding the crisis in Ukraine, President of the European Union Herman van Rompuy said the situation there "matters beyond the European continent. It is about rejecting the use of force, about defending the rule of law that upholds our society of nations." Like Obama and others, he spread disinformation about the referendum in Crimea, in one breath calling the people's overwhelming decision to join Russia an annexation and claiming in the next that the EU "stands firm in its solidarity with Ukraine; it is the Ukrainian people's right to decide their own political destiny."

Many other European leaders spoke in a similar vein seeking to isolate Russia for allegedly violating international law, then demanding forceful military action to combat ISIL that is totally outside any norms of the UN to uphold the peace and the rule of international law.

Meanwhile, many other countries presented their concerns about these very same issues, but did so by acknowledging the primacy of the structures and principles of the UN with respect to matters of international law and war and peace. This was in sharp contrast to the view of the U.S., EU and others that the UN espouses some indeterminate "civilized universal values."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for a comprehensive approach to terrorism, proposing the UN Security Council make a thorough enquiry into all aspects of terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa, and highlighted the ongoing dispossession of the Palestinians as one of the main factors. He also denounced the hypocrisy of the U.S. and its allies in their accusations against Russia regarding the crisis in Ukraine.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia said the multiple crises facing the world -- from the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to armed conflict and terrorism to sustainable development -- can be resolved if States adhere to UN principles. "These challenges are not insurmountable," he said.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Cuba in particular denounced the U.S. for its illegal military actions against Iraq and Syria.

Several countries reiterated the need to reform the UN, especially the Security Council, precisely because it favours the big powers while excluding the participation or representation of other countries, or is used to blackmail and violate the sovereignty of smaller countries. Various countries threatened by imperialism affirmed their right to be. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea highlighted in particular the need to reunify Korea as the only way to prevent war and safeguard peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region.

Many countries, especially those exploited by the colonial powers, underscored the urgent need for development that would increase the well-being of their peoples. Many of the African nations presented their concerns and proposals to further their development. The representative of Cuba pointed out that to address the Ebola epidemic affecting African nations in a profound way, the need for development must also be addressed. President of Peru Ollanta Humala emphasized that development must stay true to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

Also related to the question of sovereignty and development, many countries denounced the U.S. for its ongoing blockade of Cuba, a violation of international law which stifles that country's development, and interferes in normal relations between nations.

The General Debate makes clear once again how the U.S. striving for world domination and its contention with other big powers holds grave dangers for the world's peoples. The abuse of the UN by the U.S. and others in the name of high ideals must be rejected. As well, Canadians must not be taken in by the Harper government's phony humanitarian concern for the well-being of mothers and children, while it steps up Canada's military participation in U.S.-led illegal wars and aggression abroad and implements a brutal anti-social offensive at home.

About the 69th Session of UN General Assembly

The 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly opened September 16 at UN Headquarters in New York. The following high-level meetings of the General Assembly took place from September 22-30:

September 22: Follow-Up to Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development
September 23: Climate Summit
September 22-23: World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
September 24-30: General Debate

The UN website states, "The General Assembly (GA) is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations." It provides a forum for multilateral discussion of international issues covered by the UN Charter.

The main theme for the 69th General Assembly, "Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative post-2015 Development Agenda," was chosen by the General Assembly President for the 69th annual session, former Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa.

Other significant meetings included a Security Council summit on September 24 chaired by U.S. President Barrack Obama on foreign terrorist fighters. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also chaired a session on September 25 on international response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

The General Assembly has six Main Committees: Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee); Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee); Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (Third Committee); Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee); Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee); and Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

At a plenary session on September 19, an agenda for the UN General Assembly was adopted which organized items for discussion by these six Main Committees under the following themes:

A. Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences.

H. Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

I. Organizational, administrative and other matters, which includes: revitalization of the General Assembly.

Calls to Reform UN and
to Foster Development, Peace and Security on the Basis of UN Principles

Venezuela Highlights Need for UN Reform and Regional Concerns of Latin America and Caribbean

Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, speaking at the UN General Debate on September 27, pointed out that UN Charter had become an instrument that was unfortunately set aside, overlooked and consistently flouted.

He stressed that the United Nations was an historic experiment and that only with its establishment was the possibility created to put an end to conflicts and wars once and for all. Given the importance of having such an institution, the international community must stress the need for an in-depth transformation. It was necessary to revamp the leadership of the Security Council. There was also a need to adapt and submit to the broader sovereignty of the peoples of the world who wished to be heard, and to strengthen the role of the Secretary-General so that he could find solutions to the conflicts of the world, he added.

Maduro highlighted the increasing integration of the Latin American and Caribbean nations, such as the Bolivarian Alliance, which was observing its 10th anniversary. Petrocaribe, the oil alliance, supported that process of integration and is now starting to form ties with the rest of the world. This positive process is creating forms that can lead to a rethinking and renewal of the UN. That momentum must not be squandered he said. A common road map for humanity is needed if the international community wishes to tackle the important issues it faces.

He asked when President Obama would take the opportunity to make history by ending the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

In addition, Maduro urged the General Assembly to draft a document that would become a mandatory text for the United Nations to defend poor countries against the "vulture funds" that sought to plunder those countries' economies and impose detrimental economic systems. He expressed solidarity with the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and Argentina in particular.

He also stressed the need for a decolonization plan for Puerto Rico, which was part of the Caribbean community and should be a part of CELAC. He called for the immediate release of Puerto Rican patriot Oscar Lopez Rivera, whose only offence was to defend Puerto Rico, and who has been incarcerated and tortured in a U.S. prison for almost 35 years.

Regarding the threat of terrorism, he stated that there is no other way to overthrow the terrorist networks of the world but to invite the governments of the region to come up with a comprehensive strategy that could be supported by the Security Council. Anything else was "crazy," he said, adding that current methods, such as those used in Libya, are a "crazy race towards more terrorism and more violence."

Argentina Calls for Reform of
International Finance System

Cristina Fernandez, President of Argentina, speaking on September 24, said most of the problems facing the world today resulted from a lack of democratic multilateralism. In that context, she welcomed the vote by the Assembly on resolution 68/304, to restructure the foreign debts of all countries. That had long been before the Assembly, which had called for reform of the international financial system and the Security Council. Argentina had previously experienced the kind of economic and financial crisis that had spread throughout the world in 2008, when, in 2001, it had been forced to default on its sovereign debt. Contributing to that collapse were the creditors' terms that had been forced upon the country. As a result, there had not only been an economic collapse, but a social and political implosion as well. Argentina owed 162 per cent of its GDP. Its creditors, having contributed to that, were obligated to shoulder some of the burden.

The country had been able to formulate agreements with 92.4 per cent of its creditors, enabling it to improve the condition of its people, she said. Today the IMF recognized that the economic growth rate achieved by Argentina between 2004 and 2011 was the third largest in the world. In fact, Argentina now has the best growth in Latin America, made possible because $193 billion in debt had been restructured. Today, it carried one of the lowest debt loads in the world.

However, she added, there were "vulture funds" of individuals who would not participate in the restructuring, but instead turned to the countries indebted to them and chose to go through the court systems. Some reaped more than 1,600 per cent profit over a five-year period. Those "vulture funds" amounted to economic terrorism, creating poverty, misery and hunger through the sin of speculation. For that reason, she called for a convention on multilateralism.

She also addressed the make up of the Security Council, she said that as long as the votes of the five permanent members counted more than those of other countries, nothing would ever be resolved.

In related news, on September 29, a U.S. court ruled that Argentina is in contempt for refusing to follow a judge's orders to pay off hedge funds that sued the country for full payment on their bonds. A statement from the Argentine Foreign Ministry denounced the ruling as violation of international law.

Most of Argentina's creditors have agreed to a debt restructuring. According to the agreements, Argentina will repay them 70 percent of the face value of their bonds. However, two U.S. hedge funds -- Aurelius Capital management and NML Capital -- have refused to accept the deal.

Earlier this year, a U.S. judge froze Argentina's ability to transfer funds to restructured bondholders, as long as it does not pay the holdouts in the restructuring, mainly $1.3 billion in bonds held by Aurelius Capital management and NML Capital.

The ruling forced Argentina into its second default in 13 years and the country passed domestic legislation, aimed at transferring its bond contracts away from U.S. jurisdiction to Argentine jurisdiction.

Argentina has also announced its plan to fire the official trustee for most of its debt payments, Bank of New York Mellon, which the judge had ordered not to transfer any funds to the country's creditors.

Cuba Calls for Deep-Going UN Reform

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on September 27, called for a profound reform of the United Nations, starting with the 15-member Security Council.

"The United Nations requires a profound reform and the defence of its principles. The Secretary-General should be an advocate and guarantor of international peace and security," he told the Assembly.

"The Security Council should be rebuilt upon democracy, transparency, a fair representation of the countries of the South that are discriminated against among Permanent and Non-Permanent Members, credibility, strict observance of the United Nations Charter, without double standards, obscure procedures or the anachronistic veto."

He also called on the international community to respond vigorously to the UN appeal for help to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and condemned United States actions around the world, including its bombing attacks in Iraq and Syria "in contempt for the United Nations Organization."

Rodríguez Parrilla had previously elaborated on Cuba's position on the ebola epidemic at the UN's high level meeting on that matter on September 25, where he pointed out that human, material and financial resources are required to tackle Ebola, but also to ensure the development of Africa.

"The attitude of Cuba faced with this new crisis forms part of our spirit of solidarity with Africa, which has been a priority for over five decades. Over the past 55 years more than 76,000 Cubans have worked in 39 countries of the continent and over 4,000 health workers are currently providing services in 32 African countries. Cuba has trained 3,392 doctors free of charge, from 45 African countries," he said.

"It is within this same spirit that Cuba, as has already been announced, has decided to send brigades made up of health care workers specialized in confronting disasters and epidemics to the affected countries, and decided to increase collaboration efforts with those countries of the region which remain unaffected and in which Cuban health workers are present, in order to aid prevention of the disease.

"Finally, I reiterate our conviction that given a collective response, including contributions from all countries, especially those with greater resources, we will be successful in confronting this serious challenge."

In related news, many countries used their address to the Assembly to call for an end to the illegal U.S. blockade of Cuba. During the General Debate on September 27, El Salvador, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Guyana all lent their voices to this broad demand.

"Once again we join the vast majority of countries around the world in calling for an end to the economic blockade by the United States against the island," said Guyanese President Donald Ramotar Rabindranauth.

The Salvadoran Head of State, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, warned that the American blockade has no place in the search for an inclusive and equitable development, the central theme of the general debate of the Assembly this year.

For his part, President of Dominica, Angelo Charles Savarin said that the blockade is a concern for the entire Caribbean.

Other countries that condemned the blockade included Venezuela, Bolivia, South Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Sri Lanka, Gabon, Ghana, Peru, Tanzania, Gambia and Chad, amongst many others.

Presidents and prime ministers of those nations used words like genocide, anachronistic, illegal and unfair to describe the U.S. blockade.

For 22 consecutive years, Cuba has put forward a resolution in the General Assembly calling for an end to the blockade. Each year the resolution has passed, with the U.S. becoming almost completely isolated on this issue. In a report prepared for the upcoming vote on this year's resolution, Cuba points out that U.S. economic sanctions have cost it $3.9 billion in foreign trade over the past year, raising the overall estimate of the damage during the 55 years of the blockade to $116.8 billion.

Peru Says Development Must Align with
Core UN Principles

Among several speakers from the Latin American and Caribbean region addressing the General Assembly on September 25, Peru's President, Ollanta Humala Tasso, outlined in his address several ways his country was making strides in sustainable development without straying away from the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, such as peace and security and human rights.

"We see ourselves as an emerging country with strong institutions, proud of our cultural diversity and the skills of our people. [We] have reached important levels of poverty reduction," said President Humala Tasso.

He shared how his Administration has advanced in the fields of health and education by implementing social programmes that provide free meals and pensions to vulnerable populations and scholarships to students. He pointed out that the budget for social programmes for 2015 has increased by 12 per cent compared to that of the previous year. The multi-agency development strategy put at the "centre of all actions the human being and family."

However, historically, Peru has faced corruption and other great challenges posed by the drug problem, Humala Tasso said, urging the world to help overcome this "unquestionably global" threat. To strengthen regional and international partnerships, Peru plans to deepen trade relations, improve the existing 17 trade agreements covering 95 per cent of its foreign trade, and work toward completion of the Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks. Peru also called to end the economic blockade against Cuba.

Climate change required global, rather than national, answers, Humala Tasso urged, adding that if the world does not take immediate action, the impact of climate change could take a bite of over 5 per cent of Peru's GDP by 2030 and 20 per cent by 2050. To tackle this, Peru has taken several steps, including with the recent modification of the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity to promote the fair sharing of resources.

"Peru is not just a country but also a civilization. Its culture is part of the world heritage, as recognized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which means a universal recognition to the extraordinary work of our ancestors, who knew how to harmonize development and the environment in a sensible way," said President Humala Tasso.

Palestine: "Our Grief, Trauma, Anger Will Not Make Us Abandon Our Humanity"

Addressing the General Assembly on September 26, President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas noted that he had embarked on a recently launched round of negotiations in good faith and with an open mind, strongly determined to reach a peace accord within nine months.

According to Abbas, the negotiations had not started from point zero, "nor are we lost in a labyrinth without a map, nor do we lack a compass so as to lose sight of the finish line and of the destination."

He recalled how he had last addressed this very hall as "Palestine was healing her wounds and her people were burying beloved martyred children, women and men after yet another war."

"And here we are again today full of grief, regret, bitterness. The difference today is that the scale of this genocidal crime is larger, and that the list of martyrs, especially children, is longer," said Abbas.

This last war against Gaza was a series of "absolute war crimes carried out before the eyes and ears of the entire world. We can assume that no one will wonder anymore why extremism is rising and why the culture of peace is losing ground," said the Palestinian leader.

"At the same time, I affirm that our grief, trauma and anger will not for one moment make us abandon our humanity, our values and our ethics; we will maintain our respect and commitment to international law, international humanitarian law and international consensus," said Abbas.

"The future proposed by the Israeli government for the Palestinian people is at best isolated ghettos for Palestinians on fragmented lands, without borders and without sovereignty over its airspace, water and natural resources, which will be under the subjugation of the racist settlers and army of occupation, and at worst will be a most abhorrent form of Apartheid," he said, adding that Israel can no longer act as a state above the law with impunity.

During the past two weeks, the State of Palestine and the Arab Group have been working with Member States to prepare a Security Council draft resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an endeavour that aspires to establish the State of Palestine over the entire territory occupied since 1967, and deal with the plight of Palestine refugees, with a specific time frame for the implementation as stipulated in the Arab Peace Initiative.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Demands Security Council Reform

On September 27, Ri Su Yong, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, delivered that country's address to the General Assembly. He told delegates that, "Despite the unprecedented persistent economic blockade, military threat and political obstruction, we have firmly safeguarded national dignity, effectively deterred war and put the stagnant economy onto an upward track," said Ri, citing recent successes in the DPRK's fishing industries and livestock farming as well as a booming construction sector. However, his country continued to face "serious obstacles" due to the continuing divisions separating the Korean peninsula, he added.

Ri noted that the creation of a peaceful environment and reduction of tensions on the Korean peninsula are necessary to continue the country's further development. "The tense situation of the Korean peninsula does not help us. On the contrary, it presents a serious obstacle in our effort for economic development and improved people's living standards," he said.

Peace and security are the permanent themes of the UN, Ri noted. However, he expressed great concern about how the current make up of the Security Council and the attempts of the U.S. in particular to dominate other countries undermines this fundamental mission of the UN:

"The present reality shows that [...] a permanent member state seeks to act as military police of the world through military blocs or bilateral military alliances that have nothing to do with UN.

"The anachronistic stereotypes and prejudices of the Security Council can find their most extreme expression in the prevailing situation on the Korean peninsula."

Ri recalled the great tensions created last year with the joint U.S.-south Korean war exercises, which envisioned the occupation of the DPRK's capital city Pyongyang.

"In January this year, the government of the DPRK made a proposal to stop military hostile acts against each other on the Korean peninsula, but those provocative joint military exercises against the DPRK were forcibly conducted in March-April and in August as well.

"The government of the DPRK officially referred to the Security Council the issue of suspending such war exercises which seriously endanger peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region as a whole.

Ri reiterated that the longstanding demand to reform the Security Council should no longer be delayed:

"The structure and method of work of the current Security Council are outdated by far. It had already been confirmed by the general will of the member states reflected in a resolution A/RES/47/62 adopted at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992.

"The Security Council should no longer be an exhibition showcasing the extreme manifestation of double standards.

"The unjust practice should be put to an end, by which the military exercises waged by a permanent member state are covered up with no regard to their serious threat to peace and security, whereas those conducted by a UN member state in response is called into question [...] although they are inevitable and self-defensive in nature.

"Likewise, the Security Council simply ignores civilian killings of the Palestinian people by Israel under the patronage of a permanent member state, but selectively takes issue with only the Syrian government in defence of the sovereignty and stability of the country. This unjust practice cannot be tolerated. In particular, not a single act should be allowed in any case to encroach upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria under the disguise of counter-terrorism.

"Eleven years ago we heard with our own ears the accusation made at the Security Council meeting by a permanent member state that 'there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.'

"Only after military invasion followed and tragic bloodshed resulted, the world came to realize that it was a big lie of the century.

"However, because the big lie was made by a permanent member state, the Security Council kept silence again. As a result, the bloodshed continues even today after 11 years.

"The Security Council should not be abused as a tool for high-handedness and arbitrariness.

"The UN Charter stipulates that the Security Council should act in conformity with the principles of justice and international laws.

"The Security Council has no authority to pass a resolution on prohibiting a peaceful satellite launch by a UN member state in contravention of the international law such as the Outer Space Treaty.

"The reform of the Security Council is, in essence, a revolution that realizes democratization of UN and international relations.

"The reform of the Security Council is not possible unless its members decide to give up their prerogatives in the interest of democracy in good faith.

"The permanent member state that is most vociferous about the export of democracy should reflect on whether its sermons are just hypocrisy or not in view of the demand of the times and the majority of the member states.

"The DPRK maintains that all problems pertaining to international relations should be resolved not by high-handedness and arbitrariness but strictly on the principles of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter."

Regarding the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, Ri said this would be resolved "if and when the threat to the DPRK's sovereignty and right to life is removed in substance with the termination of the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK."

Ri reiterated the DPRK's deep desire for a peaceful and independent reunification of Korea. "The DPRK maintains that national reunification should be achieved not through a confrontation of systems but by a confederation formula whereby two systems co-exist in a country," continued Ri. "It is the only way to prevent war and safeguard peace."

China Urges General Assembly to Break New Ground in Future Development Goals

The UN's eight Millenium Development Goals, adopted by 189 nations at the Millenium Summit in September 2000, to be fulfilled by December 31, 2015.

The new sustainable development agenda should advance people's well-being, promote inclusivity and ensure implementation of development goals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the United Nations General Assembly on September 27.

One of the top priorities for China and the 192 other Member States will be to define a new roadmap that will guide development work staring in January 2016, after the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"The international community should, building on past progress and breaking new ground, adopt more effective plans and take more robust actions to advance the common development of mankind," Wang said.

He noted also that the agenda should aim to enhance global partnerships on development and improve implementation tools and mechanisms.

One of the priority areas of the current MDGs is the environment, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted with his Climate Summit earlier in the week at which China was represented by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

In his address, Wang voiced optimism that the political momentum generated by the Summit will translate into "effective actions to step up international cooperation" on climate change leading to talks next year on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

Among other issues raised in his remarks, Wang called for renewed efforts to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula in an "objective and impartial way."

"The Six Party Talks remain the only viable and effective way to resolve the nuclear issue," the Foreign Minister said in reference to these conferences involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Zimbabwe Calls for African Development to
Support Ownership of Means of Production
that Favours the Poor

Addressing the General Assembly on September 26, Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, said social justice, political stability and sustainable development in African countries could best be achieved through genuine and committed support for the ownership of means of production that favour the poor.

"My Government has gone a long way in laying the foundation for sustained food production through our Land Reform Program. The majority of rural people have been empowered to contribute to household, and to national food security," President Mugabe said, adding that households have also become the masters of their own destiny through increased possession and exploitation of land.

However, Mugabe pointed out that "Because Zimbabwe has thus been pre-occupied with the empowerment of its people economically, she has become a victim of the evil machinations of Western countries who continue to apply unilateral and illegal sanctions as a foreign policy tool to achieve short-term political objectives, particularly regime change."

Mugabe rejected foreign interference in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe, saying, "No good can come from undermining our economy, or depriving our citizens of the necessities of life. Why, I ask, should Zimbabweans continue to suffer under the yoke of unjustified and unwarranted illegal sanctions?"

Mugabe said that Zimbabwe is a peaceful and peace-loving nation, ready to engage in constructive dialogue for mutually beneficial relations. "We call on those who continue to harbour ill will against us to cast away their hegemony-driven hostility as we appeal to them to review their hard positions and open a new chapter in their relations with us based on mutual respect and friendly cooperation."

As for wider Africa, Mugabe said he firmly believes that the UN should promote dialogue to achieve peace, rule of law and common understanding among States. "Peace, security, stability and welfare of Africa and our sub-region is vital for us," he said, noting that the African Union is working tirelessly to push for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Somalia. The international community must remain "intensively engaged" and support Africa in the maintenance of peace and stability.

No to Canadian Soldiers in Iraq and Illegal Bombing of Syria for "Regime Change"! No to Canada's Participation in All Wars of Aggression!