Thailand pledges continued support for the United Nations

Celebrating the United Nations (U. N.) Day, Thailand Friday pledged full support for the world body in strengthening its three pillars -- human rights, development and peace and security.

In his address on the occasion of United Nations Day celebration at the U.N. Conference Center in Bangkok, Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said Thailand will continue to promote and protect human rights and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as abide by all the relevant international agreements and conventions to which it is party.

Likewise for post-coup democracy in Thailand, the minister said that the interim government will fully restore parliamentary democracy at the shortest possible time frame.

Regarding the U.N.'s second pillar, Nitya said Thailand will help the UN fight poverty and fulfill the basic needs of people worldwide by helping countries attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and continue to provide assistance to other developing countries.

Regarding the third pillar, Nitya said Thailand will continue to contribute to the U.N.'s efforts in maintaining international peace and security, citing its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Burundi, Timor Leste, Bosnia and Cambodia as examples.

Via video presentation shown here in Bangkok on the same day, U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan assessed the world organization's progress and highlighted remaining challenges which the U.N. faces.

Over the past ten years, he said, the U.N. has achieved much in its struggle for development, security and human rights. Aid and debt relief have increased. The world is scaling up its response to HIV/AIDS. There are fewer wars and more governments are elected by their people, he said.

Among remaining challenges, Annan raised terrorism, atrocities, the growing gap between rich and poor and nuclear proliferation as the global threats that need the world's urgent attention and response.

Also to mark the U.N. Day which is annually observed on Oct. 24, the exhibition displaying the U.N.'s development programs and the development work of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej was held at the U.N. Conference Center in Bangkok.

Source: Xinhua