Tuesday
Mar172009
UN General Assembly President Brockmann faces tough questions on Sudan, Iran and Israel
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 12:42PM
The General Assembly President, Mr. Brockmann briefed reporters on his recent visit to Syria, China, Finland, Bahrain, Geneva and Tehran. While in Tehran, he was invited to participate in a forum with Iraqi and Syrian delegates: the tenth annual Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit. The purpose of his visit was to discuss the financial and economic crisis and severe impact on development in the Middle East region. He updated heads of state on the great importance of their participation in the meetings in early June 1-4 in New York which will focus on rebuilding in Gaza as well as other Middle East development issues.
"One of the things that really struck me was Iran is so much contrary to what we see and hear in the United States. The image of Ahmadinejad has been demonized. The United States has been in the process of demonization forever. From Pinochet to Marcos and now we hear terrible things about Ahmadinejad --why do they say those things?"
The summit participants discussed aid to Gaza as well as assisting African refugees, especially in Sudan. There was also much discussion on how to assist President Karzai in Afghanistan in peace-building and to bring an end to the violence. Brockmann added:
"The Middle East is plagued with complicated issues. On the situation on the Israeli side, instead of bullying them in a corner--that does not produce the desired effect...I absolutely believe talking to Hamas and the important sides in Israel. Peace begins with respect and fairness and not covering up and excluding some from dialogue."
Brockmann has several times called the Israeli occupation of the occupied territories apartheid. He stated: "I don't hate Israeli or Jewish people but that doesn't mean they are not involved in something that is not right."
When prompted by a question on the United States boycott in attending Durban 2--the follow up to the Durban World Conference on Racism held in 2001, Brockmann replied: "I think we are living in a very important time because of the United States and its influence over the world. I want to bring a message of optimism. I personally think that there has been ingrained in the conscious of our brothers and sisters in this country that certain things are wrong. Therefore we suffer a political handicap and something has to be overcome. I believe the United States should go and I think it is because of Israel. I look forward to having much greater cooperation from the United states. The United States has for too long preached and is continuing to practice unilateralism. What about the doctrine of preventive war?"
On Sudan, where Brockmann has received a great deal of media attention and criticism, he stated : "The decision of the International Criminal Court to prosecute Al-Bashir I think is unfortunate and does a disservice to the peoples perception of international justice and helps to deepen the perception that there are international racists. Just recently, the General Assembly received a delegation from the African Union that Al-Bashir has initiated conversations with the leader of the most important rebel group in Darfur. But the ICC wants to shoot first and then find out. We in the west are notorious for getting involved in trying to solve things. It is a western mindset and it is and arrogant. "
"I also think that we will see some Security Council reforms this year. And that in some of the things you may have to go halfway. I think that everyone agrees that Africa is underrepresented. We have got to increase representation on Africa. Their representation is too low. "
The UN Secretary-General is continuing to make calls to leaders to address the fledgling humanitarian condition in Darfur. UNAMID (United Nations African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur) peacekeepers were ambushed today in Darfur and one soldier was injured and died during the battle.
The Security Council is also today meeting to discuss the Central African Republic (CAR) takeover of the European Union mission in Chad and CAR. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, over 5,700 rebel groups and families have repatriated back to Rwanda with assistance by UN peacekeepers.
"One of the things that really struck me was Iran is so much contrary to what we see and hear in the United States. The image of Ahmadinejad has been demonized. The United States has been in the process of demonization forever. From Pinochet to Marcos and now we hear terrible things about Ahmadinejad --why do they say those things?"
The summit participants discussed aid to Gaza as well as assisting African refugees, especially in Sudan. There was also much discussion on how to assist President Karzai in Afghanistan in peace-building and to bring an end to the violence. Brockmann added:
"The Middle East is plagued with complicated issues. On the situation on the Israeli side, instead of bullying them in a corner--that does not produce the desired effect...I absolutely believe talking to Hamas and the important sides in Israel. Peace begins with respect and fairness and not covering up and excluding some from dialogue."
Brockmann has several times called the Israeli occupation of the occupied territories apartheid. He stated: "I don't hate Israeli or Jewish people but that doesn't mean they are not involved in something that is not right."
When prompted by a question on the United States boycott in attending Durban 2--the follow up to the Durban World Conference on Racism held in 2001, Brockmann replied: "I think we are living in a very important time because of the United States and its influence over the world. I want to bring a message of optimism. I personally think that there has been ingrained in the conscious of our brothers and sisters in this country that certain things are wrong. Therefore we suffer a political handicap and something has to be overcome. I believe the United States should go and I think it is because of Israel. I look forward to having much greater cooperation from the United states. The United States has for too long preached and is continuing to practice unilateralism. What about the doctrine of preventive war?"
On Sudan, where Brockmann has received a great deal of media attention and criticism, he stated : "The decision of the International Criminal Court to prosecute Al-Bashir I think is unfortunate and does a disservice to the peoples perception of international justice and helps to deepen the perception that there are international racists. Just recently, the General Assembly received a delegation from the African Union that Al-Bashir has initiated conversations with the leader of the most important rebel group in Darfur. But the ICC wants to shoot first and then find out. We in the west are notorious for getting involved in trying to solve things. It is a western mindset and it is and arrogant. "
"I also think that we will see some Security Council reforms this year. And that in some of the things you may have to go halfway. I think that everyone agrees that Africa is underrepresented. We have got to increase representation on Africa. Their representation is too low. "
The UN Secretary-General is continuing to make calls to leaders to address the fledgling humanitarian condition in Darfur. UNAMID (United Nations African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur) peacekeepers were ambushed today in Darfur and one soldier was injured and died during the battle.
The Security Council is also today meeting to discuss the Central African Republic (CAR) takeover of the European Union mission in Chad and CAR. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, over 5,700 rebel groups and families have repatriated back to Rwanda with assistance by UN peacekeepers.
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