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

Date: 23 May 2006
Note to Editor: N/24/2006

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO GIVE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON HIS MAJESTY THE KING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Note to Editors: PRESS ARE INVITED on May 26

High-level Panel on His Majesty the King and Human Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vites Samosorn Hall, 09:30 hrs

Remarks by H.E Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy Prime Minister
Opening address by H.E General Prem Tinsulanonda, President of the Privy Council and Statesman
Keynote address by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Bangkok (United Nations Information Service), 23 May – This note is to inform correspondents that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be the keynote speaker at a high-level panel in Bangkok on the contributions of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej to human development in Thailand. The Panel will take place on 26 May at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vites Samosorn Hall, starting at 09:30 hrs.

Participants at the high-level panel discussion on sufficiency economy and the development of Thailand will include Dr. Chirayu Israngkun Na Ayuthaya, Director General, Bureau of the Crown Property; Ms. Pim Totankum, representative of Sakhon Nakorm Province; Ms. Elizabeth Fong, Regional Manager, UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok.

Later in the day the Secretary-General will present an international award to His Majesty in recognition of his 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 UNDP award will be presented at a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Hua Hin on the occasion of His Majesty’s sixtieth anniversary of his accession to the throne.

“His Majesty has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor,” says UNDP Resident Representative, Joana Merlin-Scholtes. “This award honours his assiduous dedication to the well-being of the people of Thailand recognized the world over,” she says.

According to UNDP, royal projects, which often focusing on small-scale agriculture, appropriate farming technologies, sustainable use of water resources, conservation, and flood and drought mitigation, have benefited millions of people in rural areas across Thailand.

Rural development projects in Northern Thailand have helped to significantly reduce the production of opium harvests through crop substitution and greatly benefit ethnic groups living in the mountainous areas along the borders with Myanmar and Lao PDR.

His Majesty has given his Royal patronage and support to a range of important social causes. These include promoting the health and well-being of children; supporting polio eradication campaigns; combating iodine deficiency and leprosy; improving the nutritional status of children; improving access to formal and informal education; and providing scholarships to orphans. His Majesty has also joined with people to help when natural disasters strike, always showing his deep concern for the safety and well-being of the people of Thailand.

He has also made an invaluable contribution to human development through his philosophy of “Sufficiency Economy” that guides behaviour of people at all levels, in the community and in the conduct of business and government affairs. It calls for a “middle way” to be observed, emphasising responsible consumption and resilience against the negative impacts of globalization.

For further information please contact:

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

Margaret Hanley, Information Officer
Tel: (66-2) 288-1862
Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: hanley@un.org

UN Development Programme (UNDP):
Cherie Hart
Regional Communications Advisor
Tel: (66-1) 918-1564
E-mail: cherie.hart@undp.org

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

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