Pm And Un

[francois]

hi'

I post here as I had a board message saying that I was not allowed to post in news

may be a bug ...

Thaksin Blows Chance of UN top Job

10/31/2004 8:00:00 PM GMT

Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has blown

his chances of landing the top UN post

Ill-considered remarks by Thailand’s Prime Minister

Thaksin Shinawatra may have compromised his chances of

becoming the next secretary-general of the United

Nations, Western diplomatic sources stated to Arab

News yesterday.

Last month the five veto-holding members of the

Security Council who must choose the next UN

secretary-general appeared to be moving toward a

consensus on Thaksin’s candidacy. Initially proposed

by the United States as a suitable successor to Kofi

Annan, whose second and final term ends next year,

Thaksin won support from both Britain and China, with

Russia and France appearing amenable if not

enthusiastic.

By tradition, the secretary-general’s post rotates

among the five continents. Next year it would be the

turn of the Asian continent to nominate the

secretary-general.

Whoever gets the post would have a good chance of

leading the UN for two successive terms of five-years

each.

Doubts about the suitability of Thaksin came after he

made a series of remarks, including a statement to the

Parliament in Bangkok, about 78 Muslims who were

suffocated to death while in police custody last week.

Thaksin refused to apologize or organize an

independent enquiry. He claimed thatthe Muslims had

died because they had become “weakened by fasting

during Ramadan”. He said some of the detainees were

under the influence of drugs when they died. The

remarks that have shocked the Thai Muslim community,

some eight million people, and the Muslim world

beyond, are seen by many as an indication that Thaksin

lacks the good sense and tact needed for the UN job.

One thing is certain: Thaksin’s nomination would anger

a majority of the world’s 57 predominantly Muslim

countries, more than a quarter of the UN’s total

membership.

If Thaksin is out of the race a number of other Asian

political figures may be considered for the post.

France and Britain are likely to back the candidacy of

Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani prime minister.

Also under consideration is Indonesia’s former

President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

If it all comes down to a ladies’ race, India may well

nominate Sonia Gandhi while Bangladesh Prime Minister

Khaleda Zia and the Philippines’ President Gloria

Arroyo Macapagal may also be persuaded to run.

[Harry Palmer]

mr francois, vous êtes un fils muet d'une chienne.

welcome back harry! we missed you

[p1p]

Francois, Where did this come from? I have asked a couple of UN contacts, who deny any Thai candidate was ever being seriously considered for the Sec-Gen post, despite unabashed lobbying by Taxin & his cronies. The only recent Thai politicians considered suitable would seem to include Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, who is unfortunately tied up with the WTO, or possibly Mr. Chuan Leekpai, who would have great difficulty being nominated in the present political climate.

Most politicians/diplomats with a history of corruption, or suspected corruption, will not be considered as suitable candidates by the Security Council. This will naturally rule out some of the potential candidates named above.

The most likely next Sec-Gen of the UN will almost certainly be drawn from the ranks of the senior Diplomatic Corps,and will, like Kofi, be almost unheard of outside these circles prior to his appointment.

[francois]

mr francois, vous êtes un fils muet d'une chienne.

meaning?

[Harry Palmer]

[francois]

hi'

I got this here : I was a bit surprised ... a you

UN news

francois

[castelleone]

So this news does not make me really sad. Our PM as a successor of Kofi Annan? What a wrong decision!

Or would it help Thailand?