Myanmar’s junta has protested the United Nations’ decision to deny its chosen representative a seat at the world body and keep in place an envoy appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted government. Similarly, the representative chosen by the Taliban has also been ignored by the New York body. The committee responsible for approving nominations of ambassadors met on Wednesday but deferred a decision over the rival claims to Myanmar and Afghanistan’s seats.
The deferral keeps in place envoys appointed by both the Myanmar and Afghanistan governments before they were ousted. Myanmar junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP that decisions made by the UN do not reflect the ground reality of their country, and that they will continue submitting according to diplomatic procedure and the right to representation in accordance with international and local laws. The Junta has chosen former soldier Aung Thurein as its envoy to the UN body.
As for Afghanistan, the Taliban asked the UN in September to accept its former spokesperson Suhail Shaheen to succeed Ghulam Isaczai, who is a cabinet member of ousted President Ashraf Ghani’s government. However, Isaczai continues to occupy Afghanistan’s offices at the UN headquarters.
