united nations have supported an immediate halt to the vie leps and negotiated peaceful transition and a responsible democratic process. despite russia and china twice vetoing security council action, the united nations general assembly and human rights council have repeatedly and overwhelmingly condemned the carnage and the united nations has played an important role in supporting arab league efforts to end the crisis including through the joint appointment of special envoy co-fee annan. in line ya the u.n. led gadhafi from massacring his own people. to end nuclear weapons programs, the united states pushed the security council to impose the toughest sachss ever on iran and north korea. as the president has made clear, we will prevent iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. and as long as iran fails to meet its international obligations, the pressure will build. the united nations played a critical role in supporting the creation of a newly independent south sudan. the u.n. ensured a democratically elected president took office. these are just a few examples of how u.s. leadership at the united nations is producing tangible results for the american people. but despite important progress, much remains to be done. that

that's why it was my honor to name him to be a representative to the united nations general assembly. because his contribution was so valuable. we say it from time to time, but it's never truer than today, god truly blessed america with the life, leadership, and service of our precious donald payne. thank you. [ applause ] >> thank you, everybody, for joining together in extended example of hand-holding at a time when there is so much turbulence here, washington, and across our country. the equilibrium that donald payne always had is yet another fitting memory of his good will, his good nature, and his honesty. and it's an honor for me to represent the senate in paying tribute to our friend donald payne. don payne was a humble man of conscience and conviction. and i was always struck by donald's spoken, soft demeanor. and i think many here will agree, this made him a rarity in politics. don payne didn't need to raise his voice. his ideals were powerful enough. for more than two decades, congressman payne served new jersey in congress with distinction. but his leadership impacted lives

it's a large conference hall that looks like the united nation's general assembly. expecting to be brought in, had. there is a large projection scream, and we were abouted to watch this launch in realtime. we didn't know. instead we received phone call frst abroad, from washington and south korea saying that the launch had already taken place. we all scrambled down to this press room, and the government officials were not here. we found an empty press room. we found the government officials we normally deal with, they were expecting to take us on a tour of some sort of plant and music factory, and a normal press tour like the ones we have been going on. they did not know this launch had taken place, they were kept in the dark just like we are being kept in the dark, and then we eventually managed to confirm this with sources outside of the country, and are working here to find out whatever we can, and we have just been told there will be some sort of statement coming out in the next few minutes. now north korea reacts in the next few minutes will be interesting. the

>> well, in fact, he did just address the united nations general assembly via a video conference, taketen to what he had to say about what he says is the necessary rapid deployment of an observer mission in syria to observe an april 10th deadline for a cease-fire. take a listen. >> -- it can't be addressed through the traditional mission. the situation is fluid. there the peace will not be consolidated without credible political process. what we'll need on the ground is a small nimble process. it will be need to be deployed quickly. >> so what their talking about, kyra, is unarmed military mission and already, there's an advanced planning team on the ground in damascus meeting with the syrian government to put together this plan for the force, 250 people, observers, to come in. what's worth noting, though, that this planning mission is not going to be talking to the syrian opposition, which are increasingly armed and fighting against the syrian military in numerous places, battle grounds all across the country. how can you do this observer mission if you're not going to talk to the reb

that's why it was my honor to name him to be our representative to the united nations general assemblyecause his contribution was so valuable. we say from time to time but it's never truer than today god truly placed america with the life, leadership and service of our precious donald payne. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, everybody, for joining together in extended example of hand holding, a time when there's so much turbulence here in washington and across our country. the equilibrium that donald payne always had is yet another fitting memory of his good will, his good nature and his honesty. and it's an honor for me to represent the senate in paying tribute to our friend, donald payne. don payne was a humble man of conscious, conviction. and i was always struck by donald's spoken soft demeanor and i think many here will agree, this made him a rarity in politics. don payne didn't need to raise his voice. his ideals were powerful enough. for more than two decades, congressman payne served new jersey in congress with distinction. but his leadership impacted lives far beyond new jer

general assembly. >> palestine olds status as united nations palestine organization. they're seeking to get their status promoted as an observer to an independent palestinian state, without getting u.n. membership. >> is that a realistic scenario? >> the process doesn't require a vote in the security council. it only needs majority of the general assembly. abbas say he's confident of getting the necessary votes. israel may refuse to return to occupy the territories, even if general assembly grants a palestinian state. in this case, palestine would become an independent state. abbas seems determined. he recognizes that the peace process is a must for independence and establishing a palestinian state. and he seems determined to achieving a final peace agreement with israel. >>> all right. the u.s. space shuttle "discovery" arrived at its new home near washington, d.c., as a museum artifact. a welcome ceremony was held for "discove "discovery" at the smithsonian. it was attended by more than 2,000 visitors as well as nasa officials and former astronauts who served as spa

that is why it was my honor to name him to be the representative to the united nations general assemblyld, it was two times because is contribution was so valuable. we say from time to time, but it is never truer than today, god truly blessed america out with a life, leadership, and service of our blessed donald payne. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, everybody. for joining together, and in an extended example of and hold it, there is so much turbulence in washington and across the country. the equilibrium that donald payne always had is yet another fitting remmemory of his good will, his good nature, and his honesty. it is an honest your -- honor for me to represent the senate. don payne a humble man, conscience and conviction, and i was always struck by donald's spoke in soft demeanor, and i think many women here will agree this made him a rarity in politics. don payne did not need to raise his voice. his ideals were powerful enough. for more than two decades, congressman payne search new jersey and congress with --stinguish donald was an expert on foreign relations. he led efforts

united nations. soon after the second double veto the general assembly took up more or less the same resolution that was blocked in the security council. it was adopted by an overwhelming majority, over 130 countries voted in favor. a very small handful, i think about eight countries, voted no. and they include russia and china and venezuela and zimbabwe and north korea and iran and syria. it was company that one would -- it's very unique company that russia and china typically don't like to find themselves in. that has been followed by continued strong action out of the human rights council and repeated international unity with the glaring exception of russia and china on issues related to syria. i think the combination of that kind of isolation has given them, particularly the chinese perhaps to a greater extent than the russians, some pause. they are both embarked on public relations efforts, particularly in the arab world, to try to mitigate the consequences of their actions. and i do think that should -- that the appointment of kofi annan and the efforts that he's trying to make provide a poten

strategy to overturn the citizens united decision, and fighting in elections to change the supreme court. >> what would you think of having a national general assembly modeled on the original continental congress in philadelphia beginning on july 4 of 2012? coming up with a list of grievances that this assembly debated. >> lawrence blessing has talked about a new constitutional convention. i think it is early. i think it is tricky. i do not mean to sound too conservative. when you say to make a list of grievances, we could sit in this room and come up with a list of six ideas or grievances that need to be made real and lead to change. you need to find your issue, work in your community. work in the organizing around the issue. link up with groups doing work. if it is student debt, find ways to take on the banks, local legislators, and congress in the short term. is not very revolutionary. at the event we did on 9/11, i said i felt this country was in a pre-revolutionary moment. it was about a week before occupy was street launched. i believe in evolution, not revolution. >> katrina, did you read the foreign affairs article that backs up the occupy m

voter fraud...the laws causing one group...to as thh united nations for help...after the break 3&p jjst... one... week left.../ ii... general assemblysed... dying... 3 dying... 3 ((nats))driver anger over those ever rising gas prices...is resonating loud and clear...with state lawmakers. legislaaiie leaders... nowsay... there's no consensus toraise the gasolineetax...at least... this session. (busch) "i think everybody understands that it's not a good time to raise the gas tax, i mman that's the thing hat hits consumers and workkrs the most."but a group of senatorr and delegates...remains sharply divided over how to balance the budget. the senate wants to increasette income tax for virtually all marylanders. delegates... prefer...to limit incomeetax hikes for individuals... earning more than 100--housand. (griffith) pso we souuht to lowee the number of people who would see taxes would be calculated." lawmakers areealso at odds over how to shift the funding of teachers' pensions to baltimore city...and the &pcounties. the house wants to phase-in those costs...over threeeyears...the senatee..prefers a our year phase-in. (mcfadden) "tt

generally realize. when people think about the united nations, they think about new york. they think about the general assemblythe security council, u.n. peacekeeping but it also encompasses about, you know, several different dozen orpgss that fit loosely under the u.n. system umbrella. and when you take a look at that entire u.n. system, it's rather expensive. and the effectiveness and the appropriateness of those organizations in terms of serving u.s. interests -- vary greatly. there are some parts of the u.n. that are extremely useful to the united states. there are other parts of the u.n. that are, frankly, not very useful at all and that the united states, i think, should re-evaluate whether it should remain a part of those organizations and within the u.n. system itself is a massive amount of mismanagement, there's also a massive amount of duplication between these different organizations so the entire system has been built up over time in a rather haphazard fashion and so the organization we had today is very smooth. it isn't very sleek and it isn't very well organized. in terms of u.s. contributions, t

all of this, as united nations peace envoy kofi annan said he expects the shooting to stop by april 12. he addressed the u.n. general assembly via video link from geneva. >> we must silence the tanks, helicopters, motors, guns and stop all other forms of violence too. sexual abuse, torture, executions, abductions, destruction of homes, forced displacement, and other abuses including on children. >> woodruff: the annan plan calls for syrian forces to withdraw from cities and towns by april 10. a full cessation of violence would follow within 48 hours. syrian officials insisted they have begun withdrawals from the provinces of daraa and idlib and the resort town of zabadani. but the opposition said in fact, government troops continue to man checkpoints in those cities. back at the u.n., secretary general ban ki-moon appealed to syrian president bashar al-assad to show vision and leadership. >> the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. violence should have stopped months ago. indeed, it never should have started, particularly since it was unleashed in response to the legitimate demands of the syrian people. >> woodr

united nations, and it's been an loner to do so. we just passed a resolution with huge support on maternal mortality at the commission on the status of women, and we champion isn't the general assembly last fall a resolution on women's political participation. i could go on and oh, but let me just say that what we have been able to do ta support women at the united nations has been a source of great pride for secretary of state hillary clinton and meep as well. >> thank you. >> thank you, madam ambassador. you mentioned the north korean situation. three weeks ago secretary clinton came before this subcommittee and discussed the fact that the north koreans were going to implement a moratorium on future launches and other nuclear-related issues. and then, of course, said we're going to judge them by our actions not by their words. last week the north koreans announced their intention to conduct another missile launch, which i guess the state department said directly violates various u.n. security council resolutions, 17, 18 -- 1718 and 1874. so i guess the real question is -- what actions should the u.n. and other organizations take if north korea launches a missile as they have promi

general assemblies. the 128 countries that can pass the budget, the countries that pay the least to the united nations, pay just a little over 1% of that budget. so in theory, 128 countries can pass the budget over the objectives of countries paying almost 99% of the budget. that is not conducive to moving reform forward. when you look at some of the least assessed countries, take sierra leon, for instance, it pays .01% of the bunt versus 22% for the u.s. that means for the regular budget u.s. is paying about $260 million a year to the u.n. for the regular budget. sierra leone is paying about $26,000. in terms of peacekeeping sierra leone pays .001% and u.s. pays a little bit over 27%. u.s. pays about $2 billion. sierra leone pays about $8 billion. all-told sierra leone pays roughly $34,000 for membership, voting privileges exactly the same as the united states absent security veto. in the u.n. system, most prestigious organization in the entire world, they pay about $34,000 for that privilege. this is the discrepancy between financial obligations on some countries but yet the privileges that is so frustra

united nations to ask for a status membership as a state and the united states. declared that it would veto bad in the security council nevertheless are still a chance because if they go back to the general assembly they could conceivably get a new verb for status it's upgraded from what they have to be it might give them access to the international courts but probably the palestinians is that occupation was only seen as a very temporary military situation maybe lasting one to three years until it's over this is a forty five year occupation and international law simply isn't geared towards dealing with it so the fact that the palestinians aren't a state i think. completely destroys their chance to use international law and if in fact these millions of people are left without any to france or any ability to leverage israel through international law it certainly dense the credibility of the entire system. and then also when we saw the polish time voted into your nasca which of course isn't. some might say as important as the security council they were literally part of this by the united states for all their funding called out how does that play into this. not only were they punished but unesco was