Thailand considers supporting Egyptian as UNESCO head

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, July 15 — Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya on Wednesday pledged that Thailand will consider supporting Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni in his campaign to head the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Mr. Kasit, now attending the two-day 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in this Egyptian town, met with Mr. Hosni on the sidelines of the summit opening Wednesday and pledged that he would consider voting for Mr. Hosni for the job.

However, Kasit said he would rather wait for the final short-listed candidates contesting for the post before making the final decision.

Kasit reportedly told Hosni that he wanted a person from a developing country to hold the UNESCO chief’s post as voting for the position will take place later this year.

He said that if Egypt holds the post it would “benefit both UNESCO and the international community.”

Expressing dissatisfaction with recent decisions by UNESCO, Kasit said it is appropriate for a developing country to hold an important role in a UN agency as several posts in the world body are now occupied by persons from developed countries.

Kasit probably referred to UNESCO granting Cambodia’s application to designate the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site in July 2008, a move with which he did not agree.

However, UNESCO agreed last month in Seville, Spain, to delay the formal registration until February as the organization still has a number of other matters to implement.

Delaying the formal registration came after Thai complaints that the temple listing had led to several armed clashes near the temple and urged the world agency to review its decision. (PNA/TNA)