Published on May 13, 2005

Despite initial reservations, Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said yesterday that Thailand and fellow Group of 77 developing-country members had full faith in Supachai Panitchpakdi after he was named as new head of the United Nation’s top trade and development agency on Wednesday.

Kantathi said G-77 members had overcome their differences over Supachai’s nomination and generally agreed that his leadership of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) would serve their interests.

He told reporters that Thailand welcomed the UN General Assembly’s decision to approve Supachai’s nomination, adding that the government stood ready to work with the outgoing World Trade Organisation chief in his new role.

In a prepared statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “[Supachai] is qualified and well placed to maximise the synergy between trade and development, thus helping to ensure that globalisation’s potential benefits are made equitable and accessible to all.”

Initially, the G-77 grouping, which has now expanded to 132 countries, had reservations about Supachai’s nomination, allegedly for fear he would not serve their interests.

Moreover, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan did not consult members before he announced Supachai’s candidacy three months ago, Kantathi said.

“G-77 sees Unctad as their baby and was concerned that their interests would be overlooked when they weren’t consulted [about Supachai’s nomination],” he said.

Thailand, which had originally told the G-77 that it would support its candidate for the Unctad top post, was informed only 15 minutes before Annan went public with his nomination of Supachai, he said.

Bangkok’s reservation caused a domestic and international stir after Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said publicly that the G-77 was unhappy with Supachai’s nomination because Annan did not seek their input. Supachai’s appointment as Unctad secretary-general means he will be the first person to cross over from a Brentwood institution - which includes the WTO and International Monetary Fund - to a UN system.

Many believe the fact that the new Unctad chief is coming from a Brentwood institution will help strengthen the co-ordination of activities between the WTO and UN.

Supachai begins his four-year term as Unctad secretary-general on September 1. He succeeds Brazilian Rubens Ricupero.

Don Pathan

The Nation

WASHINGTON, DC

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