This fundamental debate is not about to abate. On the contrary, as the German election shows and with a presidential election looming in France, the debate has intensified.

Meanwhile, over the course of three televised presidential debates and one vice presidential debate, climate change, the signature issue of our time and the most serious problem confronting our planet, was not mentioned even once.

One big surprise of the current presidential campaign in France is how national identity has surged to the forefront of the political debate. During the 1995 presidential campaign, the main issues were unemployment and social divisions.

A special word of appreciation goes to the delegation of Japan for its work on the presidential statement and for its overall engagement in support of our debate today.

We are of the view that the presidential statement to be adopted at the end of today's debate would gain from mentioning the need for increased cooperation with Interpol in tracing small arms and light weapons.

But October 3 is only the beginning. The vice presidential candidates will square off on October 11, while Obama and Romney will meet again on October 16 and then for the last debate, on October 22.

Presidential elections

This old debate is at the core of today s profound divisions over how Europe should respond to its debt crisis. The same question is dividing American politics in the lead up to November s presidential and congressional elections.

Chile s Presidential Minuet

American Presidential Beauty

Another development is the US presidential election. Republican challenger Mitt Romney s success in the first debate improves his chances and the prospect of a new administration settling in before any major decisions are made on the Iranian nuclear issue.

A French Presidential Primer

France s Presidential Reality Show

Iran s Muddled Presidential Politics

Russia s Moving Presidential Target

The role of heroic leadership in war leads to overemphasis of command and control and hard military power. In America today, the presidential debate is between Senator John McCain, a war hero, and Senator Barack Obama, a former community organizer.

Prior to the presidential inauguration ceremony on 7 December, ISAF assisted in demining operations around the presidential palace.

The political regimen is presidential.

But her triumph is only part of an intense political debate of the sort France has not seen for decades. With parliamentary and presidential elections next year, the stakes are as high as at any previous turning point in modern French history.

Foreign Policy and America s Presidential Campaign

Presidential Secretariat for Planning and Programming

For Presidential Palace read Official Residence .

If that mood is to become an issue in the 2016 presidential campaign, as early campaign rhetoric suggests, Americans should drop the false debate about isolationism and instead address three fundamental questions about the future of the country s foreign policy How much? How interventionist?

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If no presidential candidate wins over 50 per cent of the vote, a presidential run off election is expected by 8 November.

That is why, when we were discussing the presidential statement to be adopted at the end of this debate, Argentina made sure that the focus was on two areas of the Security Council's primary competence arms embargoes and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants.

The key question is whether the political gridlock exposed by the debt ceiling debate will worsen in the run up to the 2012 presidential and congressional elections if not beyond. That is possible, but we should not overlook cause for hope in what America s politicians just accomplished.

Adjournment of debate

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Closure of debate