UN decides not to recognize representatives of Taliban and Myanmar military government

On Monday, December 5, the United Nations General Assembly supported postponing a decision on granting official seats in Afghanistan and Myanmar to rival factions, meaning that representatives of the Taliban and Myanmar's military government will not be recognized among the organization's member states for the time being.

Recognition of the Myanmar military government or the Taliban government by the United Nations would be an important step in legitimizing these governments in the international arena.

The committee tasked with reviewing the qualifications of the candidates for these two seats, consisting of nine UN member states, including the United States, Russia, and China, concluded last week that the decision on the official representation of Myanmar and Afghanistan should be postponed.

According to diplomats, under the influence of this decision, the ambassadors of the previous governments of these two countries will continue to hold the seats of Myanmar and Afghanistan.

The UN General Assembly approved the decision without a vote on Monday. The Credentials Committee is unlikely to take up the matter again before the end of 2022.

The Taliban government has nominated Suhail Shaheen, its spokesman in Doha, to represent it at the United Nations. In contrast, Ghulam Ishaqzai, the representative of the former Afghan government, considers himself the legitimate ambassador of that country to the United Nations.

During the previous Taliban regime, from 1996 to 2001, the ambassador of the previous government that was overthrown by the Taliban was still recognized as Afghanistan's representative to the United Nations. During that period, the Credentials Committee repeatedly postponed responding to the Taliban's request for the seat.

Myanmar's military junta, which ousted the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February, has nominated a senior military official to represent the country at the United Nations.

The representative of the civilian government of Myanmar continues to consider himself the official ambassador to Myanmar, despite receiving death threats for collaborating with opponents of the coup.

Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted by a military court in Myanmar on Monday of inciting violence and violating coronavirus restrictions, in a case critics say was a show trial aimed at pressuring opponents of the coup.

Source: Radio Farda