Press Release.............................. UNESCAP News Services

27 May 2003

Information Note: N/12/2003

UN'S CHIEF ADVOCATE ADDRESSES FCCT ON 28 MAY
Speaks on future of the United Nations post-Iraq

UN Information Services (Bangkok) - Shashi Tharoor, the one of the UN's most prominent advocates, will address the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, 28 May 2003 on the future of the UN in a post-Iraq era.

Under-Secretary-General Tharoor frequently appears on television and radio to speak out on the United Nations and its policies. Diplomat by day, writer by night, he is also a noted author and has penned seven books as well as numerous articles, short stories and commentaries in Indian and Western publications. He is the recipient of several journalism and literary awards, including a Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

As the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Mr. Tharoor is in charge of one the UN's largest departments and architect of the Organization's information and communications strategy.

Tharoor began his career with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva in 1978 and served in Singapore during the "boat people" crisis. Since October 1989 he's been a senior official at UN Headquarters in New York, where his responsibilities have included peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia and director of communications and special projects for Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Earlier in the day Mr. Tharoor will deliver an address to the 1st Conference of the Ministers on Information and Broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The FCCT program is open to the general public. Reservations are suggested and may be made directly with the FCCT at (+66-2) 652-0580-1.

For further information, please contact United Nations Information Services, UNESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Tel: (+66) 02 288 1864-9, Fax: (66-2) 288 1052, E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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