“UNITING FOR PEACE” UPDATE #3, 3/21/03:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS MEETING ON IRAQ “VERY LIKELY”
UN General Assembly President Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic said he thought it “very likely” that a special session would be called as early as next week. If no session were called or a resolution defeated, “it would be a very clear victory for the United States,” he said.[1]
The group of 166 nonaligned nations at the UN met before the US attack “to consider convening a special session of the 191-nation assembly to denounce the United States.” They failed to agree on whether to go ahead after “some argued action was premature as the war had not yet begun.” No new meeting has been set, but “there are a lot of countries talking about that,” according to Syrian UN Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe.[2]
“Nations opposed to war will probably muster a majority in the assembly,” according to Reuters.[3]
US BATTLES CALL FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
According to Reuters, “The United States has launched a worldwide diplomatic drive to head off the calling of an emergency session of the U.N. General Assembly to condemn the U.S.-led war on Iraq.”
Diplomats attributed the “disarray among the nonaligned” to “U.S. diplomatic muscle” and said “many countries feared offending Washington. General Assembly President Jan Kavan stated, “The United States is putting pressure on many countries to resist.” A U.S. State Department official confirmed the United States was making its case that an emergency session “would not serve the interests of the United Nations.” He acknowledged, however, that “the situation is still fluid.”[4]
The US government sent a note to many countries stating, “Given the current highly charged atmosphere, the United States would regard a General Assembly session on Iraq as unhelpful and as directed against the United States. Please know that this question, as well as your position on it is important to the United States.” Orna Blum, US Embassy spokesperson in Jamaica, stated “Such messages are never delivered with threats.”[5]
BARBADOS: SMALL COUNTRY DEFIES US PRESSURE
Minister of Foreign Affairs Billie Miller revealed in the Barbados Parliament that a diplomatic communiqué from the US Embassy has urged Barbados not to support any initiative for a General Assembly Emergency Session.
Stressing that Barbados is a sovereign nation, the Foreign Affairs Minister stated: “I cannot say on behalf of the people of this country that we can allow anybody to dictate to us how our right to freedom of speech might be circumscribed. I can only say that if there is such a session, be assured that Barbados will be at the session.” She added, “Barbados is a fully paid up member of the UN. Whenever there is a special session of the General Assembly, Barbados speaks.”[6]
INDONESIA CALLS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
A press release from the Indonesian Embassy states:
“The Government of Indonesia demands the United Nations Security Council, which has responsibility to maintain international peace and security, to immediately convene in an emergency meeting in order to urge the Government of the United States of America and its allies to immediately stop the war and for the Government of the United States of America and its allies to be responsible to overcome the humanitarian aspects resulting from the conflict situation. Should the efforts by the UN Security Council come to a dead-lock, Indonesia will urge the UN General Assembly to convene in an emergency session under the framework of the “uniting for peace” resolution.”[7]
RUSSIA: DUMA CALLS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
The Russian Duma gave final approval to a resolution suggesting that President Vladimir Putin “initiate the convocation of a special UN General Assembly session to discuss the aggression initiated by the United States, Britain, and their allies” against Iraq, as well as “the post-war political, social and economic restoration of Iraq under the UN aegis.”[8]
INDIA: DEMONSTRATIONS CALL FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Massive demonstrations in New Delhi led by 24 secular Indian organizations demanded “immediate convening of UN General Assembly to oppose the war.”[9]
PAKISTAN: OPPOSITION PARTIES CALL FOR EMERGENCY SESSION
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of six Muslim parties, urged “summoning emergency sessions of the UN General Assembly.”[10]
MALAYSIA: SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP CALLS FOR GA MEETING
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, president of the prominent Malaysian-based NGO International Movement for a Just World (JUST) called on United Nations members to summon the General Assembly into an emergency session and adopt a “Uniting for Peace” resolution to condemn the use of force against Iraq. The resolution, he said, should also urge Iraq to comply fully with the UN weapons inspection regime.[11]
SINGAPORE: NGO CALLS FOR EMERGENCY GA SESSION
The Think Centre, a Singapore NGO called for an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly under Resolution 377 (Uniting for Peace). President Sinapan Samydorai sad, “The outbreak of war is not the end of the call for peace – only the beginning. Around the globe, millions are joining together calling for peace.” The Think center, he said, joined the millions calling on the United Nation member states to call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to demand a cease fire and stop the war in Iraq under Resolution 377.[12]
[1] Irwin Arieff, “US Battles Calls for Emergency UN Session on Iraq,” Reuters, March 21, 2003 on www.washingtonpost.com.
[2] Arieff.
[3] “US gives UN reasons for attacking Iraq, March 21, 2003 in the New Zealand Herald.
[4] Arieff.
[6] Lisa Haynes, “Holding Firm,” The Barbados Advocate, March 21, 2003.
[7] “Indonesia Strongly Deplores Unilateral Action,” Press Release: Indonesian Embassy, March 21, 2003.
[8] “Russia Wants UN Troops to End Fighting in Iraq,” by Wire Services, in www.republicons.org, March 21, 2003.
[9] “Massive demonstrations in New Delhi,” IRNA, March 21, 2003.
[10] Shaukat Piracha, Muhammad Imran and Shahzad Raza, “Opposition rejects US attack on Iraq,” Daily Times, March 21, 2003.
[11] “UN should hold ‘unite for peace’ session,” New Straits Times, March 21, 2003.
[12] Salbiah Said, “S’pore NGO Classifies Casualties in Iraq As War Crimes,” BERNAMA, March 21, 2003.