Taliban nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghan UN ambassador
United Nations:
The Taliban have requested to deal with world leaders on the United Nations in New York this week and nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s UN ambassador, in line with a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made the request in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday. Muttaqi requested to talk in the course of the annual high-level assembly of the General Assembly, which finishes on Monday.
Guterres’ spokesperson, Farhan Haq, confirmed Muttaqi’s letter. The transfer units up a showdown with Ghulam Isaczai, the U.N. ambassador in New York representing Afghanistan’s authorities ousted final month by the Taliban.
Haq stated the rival requests for Afghanistan’s U.N. seat had been despatched to a nine-member credentials committee, whose members embody the United States, China and Russia. The committee is unlikely to fulfill on the problem earlier than Monday, so it’s uncertain that the Taliban international minister will deal with the world physique.
Eventual U.N. acceptance of the ambassador of the Taliban can be an vital step within the hardline group’s bid for worldwide recognition, which might assist unlock badly wanted funds for the cash-strapped Afghan financial system.
Guterres has stated that the Taliban’s need for worldwide recognition is the one leverage different nations should press for inclusive authorities and respect for rights, notably for girls, in Afghanistan.
The Taliban letter stated Isaczai’s mission “is considered over and that he no longer represents Afghanistan,” stated Haq.
Until a choice is made by the credentials committee Isaczai will stay within the seat, in line with the General Assembly guidelines. He is presently scheduled to deal with the ultimate day of the assembly on Sept. 27, nevertheless it was not instantly clear if any nations would possibly object within the wake of the Taliban letter.
The committee historically meets in October or November to evaluate the credentials of all U.N. members earlier than submitting a report for General Assembly approval earlier than the tip of the yr. The committee and General Assembly often function by consensus on credentials, diplomats stated.
Others members of the committee are the Bahamas, Bhutan, Chile, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Sweden.
When the Taliban final dominated between 1996 and 2001 the ambassador of the Afghan authorities they toppled remained the U.N. consultant after the credentials committee deferred its resolution on rival claims to the seat.
The resolution was postponed “on the understanding that the current representatives of Afghanistan accredited to the United Nations would continue to participate in the work of the General Assembly,” in line with the committee report.
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