UN Decides Not to Recognize Taliban Representatives and Myanmar Military Government
The UN General Assembly on Monday, December 6, supported postponing the decision on awarding the official seat of Afghanistan and Myanmar to rival factions, meaning Taliban representatives and Myanmar’s military government are not currently recognized as official members of this organization.
Recognition of Myanmar’s military government or the Taliban government by the United Nations would be a significant step in legitimizing these governments on the international stage.
A committee tasked with examining the credentials of claimants to these two seats, consisting of 9 UN member states including the United States, Russia, and China, concluded last week that the decision on official representation of Myanmar and Afghanistan should be postponed.
According to diplomats, as a result of this decision, ambassadors of the previous governments of these two countries will retain the seats of Myanmar and Afghanistan.
The UN General Assembly on Monday confirmed this decision without holding a vote. It is unlikely that the credentials committee will place these matters on its agenda again before the end of 2022.
The Taliban government has introduced Sohail Shaheen, its spokesman in Doha, to represent it at the United Nations. In contrast, Ghulam Isaczai, the representative of Afghanistan’s previous government, considers himself the legitimate ambassador of his country to the United Nations.
During the previous Taliban government between 1996 and 2001, the ambassador of the previous government that was overthrown by the Taliban was still recognized as Afghanistan’s representative at the United Nations. During that period, the credentials committee also postponed responding to Taliban requests to claim this seat multiple times.
Myanmar’s military government, which removed the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February, has introduced a military official with a background to represent the country at the United Nations.
The representative of Myanmar’s civilian government, despite being threatened with death for cooperating with opponents of the coup, still considers himself Myanmar’s official ambassador.
Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted by a military court in Myanmar on Monday of inciting violence and violating coronavirus-related restrictions. Critics regard this case as a show trial aimed at pressuring opponents of the coup.
Source: Radio Farda
