Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram wished the United Nations a happy birthday on Friday and took the chance to reassure the world that Thailand would restore full parliamentary democracy as quickly as possible, through one-year efforts by the interim government.

On an advanced ceremony to observe the 61st United Nations Day, which is Oct. 24, at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) headquarters in Bangkok, the Thai FM reiterated that Thailand will keep its commitment to fully and steadfastly supporting the UN's work and activities.

Nitya, a career diplomat who once served as the Thailand's permanent representative to the UN in New York for eight years, reemerged from retirement as the international face for Thailand's interim government after the Sept. 19 coup. He reiterated, as he did in several previous occasions, that the interim government's top priority is "the full restoration of parliamentary democracy at the shortest possible time frame".

"So far, we have faithfully adhered to our own timelines. The National Legislative Assembly will be convened this (Friday) evening. Work on the Constitution will begin soon. We are paving the way for a stronger democracy, with more effective checks and balances. This will culminate in free and fair general elections within a year," he said.

"I ask all of you to trust us and judge us by our actions. Let us see the end results in one year's time."

The theme of UN DAY this year is the promotion of the UN- initiated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight targets set in 2001 to achieve by 2015, including cutting by half the global population living in extreme poverty and hunger, completing universal prevalence of primary education among others.

The UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su, in a messaged delivered by a representative at the ceremony, praised Thailand as one of the most advanced countries on MDG efforts.

A group of students of different nationalities from Bangkok's Harrow International School were invited to lead the attending UN officials and representatives to recite the MDG pledge which reminds countries and governments to commit to their promise on MDG goals.

UNESCAP officials also announced that between Oct. 15-16, 23, 542,614 people in over 80 countries around the world has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to "Stand Up Against Poverty" in 24 hours, an initiative of the UN Millennium Campaign in partnership with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) set in time for the UN International Day for Poverty Eradication on Oct. 17.

According to UNESCAP, the Asia and the Pacific region leads with more than 18 million people verified by Guinness World Records to Stand Up Against Poverty in multiple locations over 24 hours.

An annual marathon event will be held on Oct. 29, with start and finish in front of the UNESCAP headquarters building in Bangkok to celebrate the UN day.

Source: Xinhua