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

Date 22 May 2006
Note to Editor: N/22/2006

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT THAILAND

Expected to honour Thai Monarch with UNDP award
for advancing human development

United Nations Information Services (Bangkok) – This note is to inform correspondents, for planning purposes only, that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will make an official visit to Thailand from 25-27 May.

Mr. Annan is expected to present an international award to Thailand's King His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej in recognition of the monarch’s dedication to improving the lives of Thai people.

It will be the first time that the UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to an individual in honour of their lifetime work to furthering the understanding and progress of human development in a national, regional or global context. The award is being presented on the occasion of His Majesty’s sixtieth anniversary of his accession to the throne.

During his visit Mr. Annan will also be the keynote speaker at a UN high-level panel on His Majesty’s contributions to human development in Thailand, discuss salient regional issues with high level government officials, and meet with United Nations staff serving in Bangkok.

While in Bangkok Mr. Annan will be accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Bangkok-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Kim Hak-Su, and UNDP Resident Representative and UN Coordinator, Joana Merlin-Scholtes

Thailand is the last stop on the Secretary-General’s six-nation tour, which includes Austria, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Viet Nam, and Thailand.

For further information please contact:
David Lazarus, Chief, UN Information Services
Bangkok
Tel: (66-2) 288-1866
Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

Cherie Hart, UNDP
Tel: (66-1) 918-1564
E-mail: cherie.hart@undp.org

Punnipa Ruangtorsak, UNDP
Tel: (66-2) 288-2130
E-mail: punnipa.ruangtorsak@undp.org

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