By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – It is not likely that the United Nations Committee meeting Wednesday will permit Afghanistan’s Taliban to or Myanmar’s junta representation at the 193-member body. Diplomats agree.

Rival claims were made to the countries’ seats with the Taliban or Myanmar’s military junta vying for them. Ambassadors from the government they overthrow this year have also been contested. U.N. recognition of Myanmar’s Taliban and Myanmar’s government would mark a significant step in achieving the international recognition that they both seek.

An U.N. credential committee of nine, including Russia, China, and the United States will meet at U.N. headquarters in order to examine the credentials of all 193 U.N. members during the current session.

Four diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters that they believe the committee will defer any decisions regarding the representation of Myanmar and Afghanistan.

This committee, which includes Sweden, Chile, Namibia and Chile, will send its report about the credentials of each member to the U.N. General Assembly. It is expected that it will be approved before the end the year.

Diplomats state that both the General Assembly and the Committee traditionally make decisions about credentials through consensus.

LEVERAGE

The Taliban, which seized power in mid-August from the internationally-recognized government, has nominated its Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/exclusive-taliban-names-afghan-un-envoy-asks-speak-world-leaders-2021-09-21 as Afghanistan’s U.N. ambassador. The current U.N. ambassador appointed by the ousted government, Ghulam Isaczai, has also asked to keep the seat https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/un-envoy-ousted-afghan-government-asks-keep-new-york-seat-2021-09-17.

After the Credentials Committee deferred its decision about rival claims, the U.N. representatives who was still in office when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 remained as the U.N. ambassador.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the Taliban’s desire for international recognition is the only leverage https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/un-aid-groups-appeal-afghanistan-funding-vow-stay-2021-08-19 other countries have to press for inclusive government and respect for rights, particularly for women, in Afghanistan.

Shaheen, the Taliban’s U.N. ambassador nominated by the Taliban posted this message on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 earlier in the month: “We have all conditions required for occupying Afghanistan’s seat at U.N.

Myanmar’s junta has appointed Aung Thurein, a military veteran, to serve as its U.N. ambassador.

Current Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun – appointed by Suu Kyi’s government – has also asked to renew his U.N. accreditation, despite being the target of a plot to kill or injure him https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/two-myanmar-citizens-arrested-plot-kill-unambassador-2021-08-06 over his opposition to the coup.

The former U.N. special envoy on Myanmar, who stepped down last month, warned that no country should recognize or legitimize https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/recognizing-myanmar-junta-wont-stop-violence-outgoing-un-envoy-2021-10-25 the junta, while Guterres pledged in February to mobilize pressure “to make sure that this coup fails.”