Not given the UN podium

Meet ends without speeches from Taliban and Myanmar

new York: The UN General Assembly has ended but without speeches by those in power in Afghanistan and Myanmar, one of many quirks at this year’s diplomatic marathon that saw 100 leaders defy coronavirus fears to meet in person.

The UN representative of Afghanistan’s former regime was expected to defy the Taliban with an address yesterday after the group requested its new foreign minister be allowed to speak instead.

The Taliban wrote a letter to UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres last Monday requesting that Amir Khan Muttaqi be allowed to “participate”. The letter noted that Ghulam Isaczai, Afghanistan’s UN envoy under Ashraf Ghani, who was ousted last month, “no longer represents” Afghanistan at the United Nations.

The plea was due to be considered by a committee that included the United States, Russia and China, but a UN official said the meeting didn’t take place.

A diplomat said the Taliban sent their request “too late”, paving the way for Isaczai, whom the UN still recognises as Afghanistan’s representative, to speak.

The week of speeches was originally due to end with Afghanistan, Myanmar and Guinea, but the situation of the latter two countries also stirred up further intrigue going into the last day.

A high-level UN diplomat said that “an agreement” had been reached between the United States, Russia and China preventing Myanmar’s UN ambassador – an outspoken supporter of the democracy movement who has refused junta orders to quit – from speaking.

Kyaw Moe Tun, chosen by former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is supported by the international community and has retained his seat at the United Nations following the Feb 1 military coup.

In May, the junta appointed a former general to replace him, but the United Nations has not yet approved the appointment.

Kyaw Moe Tun was the victim of a recent alleged conspiracy foiled by US investigators that plotted to either force him to resign or kill him if he refused.

Diplomats were, however, expected to hear from Guinea’s representative to the UN, Aly Diane, even though he is an appointee of the former president who was deposed in a military coup earlier this month.

This year’s high-level meet saw some 100 leaders descend on the UN headquarters after last year’s event was mostly virtual.