UN Faces Dilemma Over Myanmar and Afghanistan Representative Appointments Ahead of General Assembly

Controversy Over Myanmar Military and Taliban Ambassador Approval
Unlikely to Change Immediately at the General Assembly on the 21st

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United Nations is reportedly grappling with the issue of replacing the UN ambassadors of Myanmar and Afghanistan ahead of the 76th General Assembly. In both Myanmar and Afghanistan, the civilian governments collapsed due to military coups and the Taliban's armed takeover, leading to controversies over the representation of these countries' UN ambassadors. In particular, as the Myanmar military and the Taliban have shown moves to replace their UN ambassadors, it is analyzed that the UN, which is sanctioning these regimes, will find it difficult to accept this. Public opinion in the international community is also divided, and the controversy is expected to continue for some time.

On the 13th (local time), Farhan Haq, the UN Deputy Spokesperson, stated at a press conference that "We have received two requests regarding the ambassador who will attend the 76th General Assembly from Myanmar," explaining that both the Myanmar military and the government side have requested that the UN allow the ambassadors they appointed to attend the General Assembly. It is known that both sides have even requested a qualification review of their appointed UN ambassadors at the General Assembly.

As the issue of Myanmar's UN ambassador surfaced, the issue of Afghanistan's UN ambassador also came to the forefront. Currently, the Afghan UN ambassador is Ghulam Isaczai, appointed by the Afghan government, but the Taliban reportedly wants to replace him with an ambassador they appointed. According to The New York Times (NYT), Ambassador Isaczai previously urged at a UN Security Council meeting, "Do not recognize the Taliban as the government, and continue the existing UN sanctions against the Taliban."

NYT reported that the approval of a UN ambassador signifies international recognition of the legitimacy of the respective regime, so the UN and the international community are also deliberating. In particular, since the Taliban has been designated and sanctioned as an international terrorist organization by the UN, approving a UN ambassador appointed by the Taliban would require lifting sanctions first and officially recognizing the Taliban as the government, making it a difficult stance.

It is known that the UN is unlikely to replace the ambassadors of Myanmar and Afghanistan at the upcoming General Assembly starting on the 21st. Richard Gowan, UN Director at the International Crisis Group, predicted, "Although on a fragile foundation, the UN will keep the existing ambassadors of the two countries in their positions for the time being."