Taliban want to address UN General Assembly on behalf of Afghanistan

In their quest for international recognition, the Taliban are trying a new approach. The government foreign minister appointed by those who seized power a month ago in Kabul, Amir Khan Muttaqi, asked in a letter to speak to the United Nations (UN) Annual General Assembly on behalf of from Afghanistan, according to a spokesperson for the world organization.

The United Nations have not yet decided who will represent the country in the meeting which opened on Tuesday for a week, the ambassador of the former ousted government having also asked to speak, added the spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

The two competing demands are in the hands of the “Accreditation commission”, he added, without specifying whether it would meet before Monday, the last day of the week of interventions by the leaders of the countries of the planet at the prestigious New York platform of the UN.

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres first received a letter on September 15 from the current permanent representation of Afghanistan, signed by his Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai. The latter is indicated as “Head of delegation” for the General Assembly, reported Stéphane Dujarric.

Then, on September 20, Antonio Guterres “Received a letterhead from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, signed by the head of diplomacy appointed by the Taliban after they came to power in mid-August. Amir Khan Muttaqi “Ask to participate” at the great global diplomatic meeting, added the spokesperson, without specifying whether he heard speaking in person in New York or by recorded video, as is authorized this year due to the Covid-19.

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A government very little recognized in the world

In his letter, the Taliban minister pointed out that Ashraf Ghani was ” reversed “ and that countries around the world “No longer recognize him as president” from Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesman in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, has been appointed Afghan ambassador to the UN, according to the letter.

Most governments around the world have yet to recognize the government appointed by the Taliban, previously demanding that it meet several conditions, including respect for women’s rights and its commitment to let those who want to leave Afghanistan.

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In the case of two requests for diplomatic representation for a member state, the members of the commission, – composed of Russia, China, the United States, Sweden, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Chile , Bhutan and the Bahamas -, have often refrained, in the past, from deciding on the substance by referring the question to the General Assembly for a vote, explained to Agence France -Press (AFP) a diplomatic source.

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The World with AFP

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