Thailand's new UN role a daunting challenge

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Thailand's new UN role a daunting challenge
The Nation

Rather than a form of recognition for the junta, chairmanship of the Group of 77 is a test of the country's skill at coordinating development

BANGKOK: -- Nothing should be read into Thailand being given chairmanship of the United Nations' Group of 77 in terms of earning international "recognition" for the military-installed government under General Prayut Chan-o-cha. Nor can Prayut claim any particular credit for gaining the leadership of one of largest intergovernmental groupings of developing countries at the United Nations.

Thailand will take over from South Africa at the beginning of next year.

Prime Minister Prayut was in New York for the UN General Assembly when Thailand's chairmanship was endorsed last week, but he did nothing to bring about the nomination. Judging from his words to journalists about the Group of 77, he doesn't appear to even know the nature of the group, let alone the role of its chairman.

Prayut said Thailand was chosen to chair the group because it has succeeded in reducing poverty and fostering development.

Gaining leadership of some United Nations agencies is difficult for UN member-countries due to the inherent competition and political gamesmanship. This is not the case with the Group of 77, for which the chairmanship is shared on a rotational basis.

The chairmanship rotates regionally among the nations of Africa, the Asia-Pacific area, Latin America and the Caribbean. The term lasts one year. It is important to note that the Group of 77 has several constituent chapters within the UN-agency system - the Geneva, Nairobi, Paris, Rome, Vienna and New York chapters. Each of these has its own way of conducting business, though they share a few features in common, such as similarities in membership and their approach to making decisions.

So becoming chairman of the Group of 77 is hardly difficult. Serving as chair, however, can be tricky, due to the complexity of the issues at hand and the diversity of its members. Established in June 1964, the Group of 77 currently represents 134 developing countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The diversity is daunting, and not just in geographical scale from sprawling China to tiny Nauru.

The group initially aimed to promote South-South collaboration in development, but the geo-economic situation has changed utterly in the half century since its inauguration. China, most notably, has become prosperous and powerful, the second-largest economy in the world, and that gives Beijing entirely different status in the Group of 77.

When the UN adopted its post-2015 agenda at a Sustainable Development Summit on Sunday, the Group of 77 welcomed the move. It will play an active role in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associate targets.

Chairmanship of the Group of 77 was hardly a "gift" to visiting Prime Minister Prayut. It does, however, represent a major challenge for Thai diplomacy. Nations across the planet have to be convinced that these goals for sustainable development can and must be achieved.

The Foreign Ministry has high-calibre staff at UN headquarters, but that will not be enough to demonstrate that Thailand is capable of doing a good job in this new role. The premier and his government will have to prepare unambiguous guidelines for the Thai diplomats in New York to achieve their mission and, by doing so, enhance the country's status in international eyes.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thailands-new-UN-role-a-daunting-challenge-30269729.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-29

[clockman]

Good luck to U.N., dealing with Thainess!

[Emster23]

Seems the most daunting task is to just figure out what the heck the group is there for....

[Snig27]

Have a wee google - this was announced close to two years back.

[FangFerang]

"the chairmanship is shared on a rotational basis" -- this means it is a symbolic chairing, and a paper tiger..not the "daunting challenge" the article tries to rev it up to be.

This article is trying to make chicken salad from chicken shit.

[peterjackson]

QUOTE : Prayut said Thailand was chosen to chair the group because it has succeeded in reducing poverty and fostering development

Most observers would say a Military Coup and then a self imposed ex-general as an autocratic unelected PM was not 'fostering development'.

I have no clue which policy the Supreme Leader has implemented that has reduced poverty.

[allan michaud]

Seems the most daunting task is to just figure out what the heck the group is there for....

Yes, having read that article I still have no idea what they are supposed to do. Still, it should result in paid holidays to some exotic locations for some lucky Thai representatives.

[Just1Voice]

But....but....but....just a couple of days ago, the wonderful Thai press reported that Thailand "won the election" for the Chairmanship!

[oneday]

"...but he did nothing to bring about the nomination. Judging from his words to journalists about the Group of 77, he doesn't appear to even know the nature of the group, let alone the role of its chairman..."

Finally, something I can believe.

[MZurf]

QUOTE : Prayut said Thailand was chosen to chair the group because it has succeeded in reducing poverty and fostering development

Most observers would say a Military Coup and then a self imposed ex-general as an autocratic unelected PM was not 'fostering development'.

I have no clue which policy the Supreme Leader has implemented that has reduced poverty.

Actually, it has reduced "poverty" among the old elite who where partially barred from the trough during the regime of the new elite.

[Jeremy50]

I wonder if the 'gen' could even point to 7 of these countries on a world map, let alone 77.

[phoenixdoglover]

A figurehead position for a do nothing group.

Overall, it looks like the NYC visit, and the week's festivities may simply reinforce what is already known. Thailand is not a big, influential player. Thailand has a long way to go. The current head of the Junta is a virtual nobody. The news from NY is packaged for the hopeful masses back home.

Reality awaits on touchdown at BKK.

[Joe Brennan]

QUOTE : Prayut said Thailand was chosen to chair the group because it has succeeded in reducing poverty and fostering development

Most observers would say a Military Coup and then a self imposed ex-general as an autocratic unelected PM was not 'fostering development'.

I have no clue which policy the Supreme Leader has implemented that has reduced poverty.

I think I'd have more confidence in that quote if it came from someone at the UN. Someone for whom truth is not quite such a mystery.

[alant]

QUOTE : Prayut said Thailand was chosen to chair the group because it has succeeded in reducing poverty and fostering development

Most observers would say a Military Coup and then a self imposed ex-general as an autocratic unelected PM was not 'fostering development'.

I have no clue which policy the Supreme Leader has implemented that has reduced poverty.

could it be this?

[waldroj]

Thailand will take over from South Africa at the beginning of next year.

Gaining leadership of some United Nations agencies is difficult ... This is not the case with the Group of 77, for which the chairmanship is shared on a rotational basis.

Oh, so fitting that a nation (that currently denies its citizens democracy and fundamental rights) takes over from a nation that once did the same!

[Strangebrew]

Wonder how the rice scam and vote buying scam will work in other countries?

[BSJ]

Do the ordinary Thai people care at all that this occurred??? The un is full of parasitic countries that Somchai probably never heard of!