AMBASSADOR'S UN ROLE OVER-STATED

From Swazi Media Commentary Sun Oct 5 2014, 05:56:00

Swaziland's Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini misled the media when he said that the kingdom's Ambassador to the United Nations was now 'the vice-president' for the UN General Assembly.

The Observer on Saturday, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, who rules as sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, reported Dlamini saying the election of Zweli Mnisi proved Swaziland had been placed in the world map by holding such a high position.

But this is far from the truth. Rather than being elected 'the' vice-president' of the UN General Assembly, Mnisi is one of 21 vice-presidents.

According to UN rules the vice-presidents are chosen from across the world so that six are representatives from African states; five from Asian states; one from an Eastern European state; three from Latin American States; two from Western European or other states with five representatives from the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

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