Myanmar won’t address UN General Assembly amid legitimacy battle

Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun was scheduled to speak Monday, the last day of the General Assembly, according to Reuters. 

“At this point, Myanmar is not speaking,” U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said to Reuters.

“I withdrew from the speaker list and will not speak at this general debate,” Kyaw Moe Tun confirmed to Reuters. 

The decision came out of a deal brokered by the U.S., Russia and China to allow Kyaw Moe Tun to remain in Myanmar’s U.N. seat as long as he did not speak at the meeting, diplomats told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s junta has put forth another candidate to fill the seat, but no official decision will be made on that matter until the nine-member credentials committee meets, Reuters said.

Members of that committee include the United States, China and Russia, and its meetings are typically held in October or November.

The committee will also decide the fate of Afghanistan’s seat as Ghulam M. Isaczai, Afghanistan’s current U.N. ambassador, represents the government that was overthrown by the Taliban, which has nominated Suhail Shaheen to replace Isaczai. 

The Taliban requested to address the U.N. General Assembly, however The Associated Press reported on Friday that “it’s almost certain” that will not happen, as Isaczai remained on the schedule for Afghanistan’s allotted time.