UNGA chief upbeat, despite challenging times
As if overseeing sessions involving more than 100 nations is not challenging enough, the President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) Miroslav Lajcak also has to manage it within a one-year term amid a fast-changing global trend of multilateralism. The Nation’s Wasamon Audjarint spoke to Lajcak about how he saw his duty – as it has been and as it will be.
THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AGAINST THE ROHINGYA IN MYANMAR’S RAKHINE STATE HAS BEEN AT THE CENTRE OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IN RECENT YEARS. WHAT ROLE DOES THE UN HAVE, HOW DOES IT PLAN TO SORT IT OUT AND WHAT DO YOU THINK REGIONAL COUNTRIES SUCH AS THAILAND HAVE DONE TO REMEDY THE CRISIS?
Indeed, it is a huge human tragedy followed by everyone. It is being dealt with in the UN system as well as by the UN Security Council, whose envoys paid a four-day visit in April to Myanmar and Bangladesh, where refugee camps house hundreds of thousands of fleeing Rohingya. They talked to key people in Myanmar and stressed their [the envoys] priority was for the safe return of the refugees and guarantees about the lives of [Rohingya] people.
While Thailand has tried to be helpful by providing humanitarian assistance to the troubled area, addressing this sensitive issue is always the most important thing. The knowledge of this situation should help the UN define the right, constructive strategy. It is better to have problems based on, not from, situations.
MOVING UP TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA, WHILE POSITIVE SIGNS HAVE EMERGED AMID THE NUCLEAR TENSIONS, THE UNSC IS ALSO KNOWN TO AGREE ON RESOLUTIONS THAT SOMETIMES RESULT IN SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA. HOW DO YOU SEE THE UN ROLE FROM NOW ON?
I’m not a big fan of sanctions. They are an instrument of last resource – sometimes inevitable and obligatory. If the process continues in the current spirit, [positive talks] could be on the table but first, we’ll have to see the results. I just hope that this moment will last and turn into a credible peace process.
TURNING TO YOURSELF, HOW HAVE YOUR EIGHT MONTHS AS THE PGA BEEN SO FAR? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY AMID A SHIFT AWAY FROM MULTILATERALISM ACROSS THE GLOBE?
I count pursuing peace, resolving conflict, migration and sustainable development goals as working opportunities for me, as the PGA. On the more challenging multilateralism, the UN, for instance, is very universal when dealing with issues and we do our best to address it in comprehensive ways as well as setting global standards.
The UN is, and should be, strong even when multilateralism is challenging. Multilateralism, to me, should determine that if there is any problem occurring between or among countries, we must be sure we are able to meet and talk to avoid conflicts.
WHAT ABOUT THE SHIFT THAT HAS SEEN EASTERN POWERS RISING TOWARDS THE LEVEL OF THEIR WESTERN COUNTERPARTS IN TERMS OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCE? HAS THIS BEEN A FACTOR IN DECISION-MAKING IN UNGA-RELATED MEETINGS?
What makes up the UNGA are five regional groups and it is up to each member state, whether small or big countries, to propose intiatives and present ideas to be agreed upon so that a formal approach can be launched and supported. While it is true that the United States is a member of the UNSC and is biggest in terms of financial support and the fact it houses the UN headquarters, it is still [currently concerned] by global migration issues and we hope that it will only be temporary.