tuluum's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATION \"FREEDOM IS THE RIGHT TO TELL YOU TO FUCK OFF\" Article: Pressure on region Date: Friday, March 21st, 2003 Source: www.NationNews.com - Barbados Barbados will attend a special session convened by the United Nations (UN), despite pressure from the United States that it should not. An urgent note sent to regional governments stressing that the United States would see the region's participation in a special session of the United Nations as "inimical to its national interest", has been ignored by Barbados. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Billie Miller told the House of Assembly yesterday that this country was a "fully paid-up" member of the UN and whenever there was a special session, Barbados attended and spoke. This occasion, she said, would be no different. The diplomatic note from the United States called on CARICOM to either oppose, or abstain from voting for a special session of the UN General Assembly to be convened. That special session would move the Iraqi issue from the Security Council to the General Assembly so that all of the UN member-states could speak out on the issue. Miller said she had a copy of the diplomatic note which was sent by American officials: "The US is urging us to oppose the convening of the special session." Speaking on the fourth day of the Estimates 2003-2004 debate, she said Barbados, like the United States, was a sovereign nation with the right of freedom of speech enshrined in its Constitution. She asked again if the United States took this position, who would be next within the climate of the UN. "What is Barbados going to be asked to do?" she asked. Miller said Barbados could not allow anyone to dictate to it and reserved the right to disagree with the United States. Sources said last night the pressure was so heavy and Washington's threats to withdraw aid to Caribbean countries that fail to support it so serious, that Caricom ambassadors at the UN will meet in a special emergency session this morning in New York to assess the situation. "The United States is exerting considerable pressure on the Caricom region in a fashion that would split Caricom solidarity," said a senior envoy. "It's my understanding that one or two of our countries have broken ranks already. The meeting will allow us to assess the situation and see where each country stands. Believe me, the pressure is intense and the situation is very serious." The meeting of ambassadors is to be chaired by St Lucia, which is serving as the chair of the Caricom grouping and which is to take up the presidency of the General Assembly later this year. "I have seen threats in writing, warning against support for any attempt to bring the matter before the General Assembly," said an ambassador. "The threats are real and could hit hard on those countries which are relying heavily on American aid to complete major projects." Another Caribbean envoy sought to play down Washington's request, saying that such lobbying manoeuvres were commonplace at the UN. Miller said she was not aware of any sanctions that might follow Barbados' stand.[End] Article: `Bullyism' from US, says Express Date: Saturday, March 22nd, 2003 Source: www.NationNews.com - Barbados PORT-OF-SPAIN ? The Trinidad Express newspaper has criticised the United States for engaging in "bullyism" tactics by the wording of a diplomatic note sent to the governments of member states of the Caribbean Community urging that they either "vote against or abstain" from a move to summon a special session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the war on Iraq. As CARICOM ambassadors at the United Nations were getting ready for a meeting yesterday to discuss moves for the General Assembly meeting and also the warning note from the United States, the Express was editorially welcoming reports that the Community's governments would most likely ignore the correspondence from America. In its diplomatic note on the proposed United Nations General Assembly meeting, as originally discussed at the recently concluded Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Malaysia ? stated: "We urge you to oppose such a session, and either to vote against or abstain if the matter is brought to a vote . . . Given the current highly charged atmosphere", added the note, "the United States would regard a General Assembly session on Iraq as unhelpful and as directed against the United States . . ." The Express, in its editorial titled: Having A Voice Of Their Own, said it was "difficult to read the United States note as being anything else but the dictate of a bully . . ." No wonder then, said the newspaper, that CARICOM countries "who, for more reasons than one, have historically taken to seeing the world through the lens of the United States of America, are determined not to be blinded by their big brother's latest sally . . ." Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Barbados, Billie Miller, rejected any notion of her Government staying away from any session of the General Assembly as being proposed.[End] **************************************************************************** Current Clix Ranking: ? | Previous Clix Ranking: 34 2:22 p.m. - Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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