HL Deb 13 November 2000 vol 619 cc15-6WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they did not oppose the appointment of Ambassador Tan, Burma's permanent representative at the United Nations in Geneva, as chairman of the United Nations General Assembly's first Committee on Disarmament and International Security. [HL4454]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The chairmanship of each UN General Assembly committee rotates annually between the five UN electoral groups. By convention, the candidate endorsed by the electoral group is elected to the chair without a vote being taken.

This year, the chairmanship of the first committee fell to the Asian group, who chose the Burmese representative as their candidate. His role is a functional one, bound by the General Assembly rules of procedure and under the authority of the committee. He chairs meetings in a personal capacity, does not represent Burmese policy and does not vote.

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of their ethical dimension to foreign policy and Baroness Scotland of Asthal's statement that Burma is a "country bled white by misdirections of resources into arms" (H.L. Deb., 2 October, col. 1222), the appointment of Ambassador Tan, Burma's permanent representative at the United Nations in Geneva, as chairman of the United Nations General Assembly's first Committee on Disarmament and International Security carries their support. [HL4455]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The chairmanship of each UN General Assembly committee rotates annually between the five UN electoral groups. By convention, the candidate endorsed by the electoral group is elected to the chair without a vote being taken.

This year, the chairmanship of the first committee fell to the Asian group, who chose the Burmese representative as their candidate. His role is a functional one, bound by the General Assembly rules of procedure and under the authority of the committee. He chairs meetings in a personal capacity, does not represent Burmese policy and does not vote.

The Government support the procedural convention by which the chairs of the General Assembly committees are selected. This in no way implies approval of the policies of the chair's home state. As is well known, the UK is one of Burma's fiercest critics in the UN.