By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 23/24, updated -- As the UN Budget committee finally began voting at midnight, Iran's attempt to cut funding to the Group of Experts of its Sanctions Committee lost with 79 against, 36 abstaining and 11 for, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Myanmar.
Funding for the Durban III review day passed, 102 for, 33 abstaining and 17 against, including Canada and the United States, whose Joseph Melrose spoke.
Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua proposed a paragraph against Responsibility to Protect. Cuba spoke at length as did Nicaragua, denouncing the arrogance of R2P while speechifying to a GA hall full of half sleeping delegates.
Argentina's representative was sleeping, as was Swazilands. Russia had five large people, and took over a seat of Sierra Leone or the Seychelles.
Still, the ALBA group lost, 68 against, 51 abstaining and 17 for them in opposing R2P, including Qatar, the Solomon Island and not surprisingly Sudan. India voted “no,” that is, for R2P, a change from their prior Permanent Representative's position.
A vote was held on the overall Genocide resolution, now with only nine opposed including Iran, Ecuador and Zimbabwe. Iran called for a vote against all the Special Political Missions. On this, only Iran voted against, with three abstaining: North Korea, Myanmar and Syria - on Roed Larsen and Resolution 1559? Watch this site.
Updates: Budget committee meeting ends at 1:35 am with $5 billion quietly allocated.
At 1:44 am Eritrea takes the floor, quoting Henry Ford, a real Hallmark Card of a speech from a country dis-invited from the UN's September Somalia meeting.
At 2:23 am, after a coffee or drinks drink, full UNGA starts, with France complaining again about English only. Iceland rep has been knitting, Latvia sleeping. Deiss is not here. Why not?
As full UNGA votes on the budget, among countries absent is Somalia. Where's the TFG? Sri Lanka is here, but didn't vote on Iran resolutions. Very diplomatic.
In full UNGA, Durban III funding passes 104 for (2 more than in Budget committeee), 22 against (5 more) and 33 abstaining (same).
Notice: white New Yorkers in Marshall Islands & Palau seats confer, as Nauru rent-a-diplomat quietly leaves. #NiceWorkIfYouCanGetIt
Fin: it's over, budget votes finished at 4:39 am, ritual Xmas tree up on voting screen, flashbulbs of cell phone cameras, handshakes, 10-4.
