United Nations, 1 October 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Turkmenistan has withdrawn without explanation from the list of speakers to this year's UN General Assembly high-level debate.
A spokeswoman for the General Assembly, Michelle Montas, told RFE/RL that Turkmenistan joins Libya and Djibouti as the only ones among the UN's 191 members not slated to address the high-level session, which ends tomorrow.
Turkmenistan's foreign minister, Rashid Meredov, had been scheduled to address the assembly on 26 September. A member of the Turkmen mission, who requested anonymity, confirmed to RFE/RL there would be no address this year but could not give a reason.
Montas said Turkmenistan was continuing to carry out its duties as one of the vice presidents elected to occasionally preside over the debate.
A spokeswoman for the General Assembly, Michelle Montas, told RFE/RL that Turkmenistan joins Libya and Djibouti as the only ones among the UN's 191 members not slated to address the high-level session, which ends tomorrow.
Turkmenistan's foreign minister, Rashid Meredov, had been scheduled to address the assembly on 26 September. A member of the Turkmen mission, who requested anonymity, confirmed to RFE/RL there would be no address this year but could not give a reason.
Montas said Turkmenistan was continuing to carry out its duties as one of the vice presidents elected to occasionally preside over the debate.