Former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, a Muslim highly respected by the international community, emerged as a possible successor to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Thailand’s Nation newspaper reported on Thursday.
"He is an Asian, a moderate Muslim and a former foreign minister who is well-known and respected in the international community," the paper cited an unnamed official as saying.
The report also quoted “informed sources” who said that the United States will back Surin because it believes that he is “a strong candidate”.
Surin, Thailand’s top diplomat for four years after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, did not deny the report.
"I can only say that one feels honored for having his name being mentioned in such a positive light," he told Reuters.
"At this moment, I am not a candidate but the international community has been aware of my keen interest in an international position,” he added.
Asked if he’d been approached by U.S. officials as a possible candidate he said: “Not personally, not directly”.
Meanwhile, Richard Grenell, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, denied that Washington supported Surin’s candidacy, saying that the Nation report was “completely wrong”.
On Thursday, members of the UN Security Council conducted a third informal vote on their preferences for the seven declared candidates to succeed Annan.
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon emerged top of the two previous polls.
Thailand's declared candidate, Surakiart Sathirathai, a deputy prime minister in the government that was toppled in a coup last week, has come third in the previous votes.
ReplyAHMED_GUREY
10-01-2006, 03:25 AM
isn't that seat ''seen'' as a mere ''puppet seat'' controlled by american puppeteers?
so lets say if he wins wouldn't he be seen a ''muslim puppet'' controlled by americans?
ReplyTrumble
10-01-2006, 08:50 AM
format_quote Originally Posted by
AHMED_GUREY
isn't that seat ''seen'' as a mere ''puppet seat'' controlled by american puppeteers?
Not generally no, except by those who think
anybody who doesn't spend half of their time declaring "death to America" and "death to Israel" must be an American puppet.
Actually, of the six remaining candidates (a Sri Lankan dropped out) fully half are muslims, there's an Afghan and a Jordanian in the mix as well.
Reply- Qatada -
10-01-2006, 08:56 AM
format_quote Originally Posted by
Trumble
Not generally no, except by those who think anybody who doesn't spend half of their time declaring "death to America" and "death to Israel" must be an American puppet.
Actually, of the six remaining candidates (a Sri Lankan dropped out) fully half are muslims, there's an Afghan and a Jordanian in the mix as well.
Anyone who prefer's the law of something besides the law of Allaah is falling into a dangerous path.
Peace.
ReplyWelcome, Guest!
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, you can participate in the discussions and share your thoughts. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and make new friends.
Sign Up
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, you can participate in the discussions and share your thoughts. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and make new friends.
Sign Up
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.