Zahir Tanin
Encyclopedia
H.E. Dr. Zahir Tanin born on 1 May 1956, is the Permanent Representative
to the United Nations
for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He presented his Credentials to H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations on 19 December 2006.
. He has completed BBC broadcasting, media management, finance management and other courses, including a one-year BBC leadership program.
. He co-authored, The Communist Regime in Afghanistan, a study of the political and social changes in Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992. He also authored, Afghanistan in the Twentieth Century. He produced a 29-part program, The Oral History of Afghanistan in the 20th Century, that was later broadcast on the BBC
.
After 1992, Tanin was a freelance writer in France and Editor-in-Chief of Afkbar-e-Haftah and Sabawoon Magazine until 1993. Before beginning a career at the BBC, he was at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was a Research Fellow at the International Relations Department from 1994 to 1995.
Mr. Tanin worked as BBC Television Producer from 1995 to 2000 and as Senior Producer from 2000 to 2001). From 2001 to 2003 he was an editor for BBC World Service, Afghanistan and Central Asia (Persian Section). Following this he was an editor for Persian/Pashto Section, in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006, before taking his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and succeeding Ravan Farhadi, who had been permanent representative to the UN for more than ten years.
, 21 Vice Presidents, and Chairmen for the Assembly's six main committees.
Tanin also chairs the intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council reform.UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto
selected Tanin to jump start the stalled Security Council reform process, which got underway some 16 years ago. Despite his efforts, the security council reform remains deadlocked and Ambassador Tanin was reappointed to chair the ongoing negotiations during the 64th session of the General Assembly in 2009 and again for the 65th session in 2010.
Tanin has taken a more willing position towards a process of reconciliation among all citizens and an integration of former combatants.
As Vice Chair of the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Committee since 2006, Ambassador Tanin has been involved in talks about creating a Palestinian State. Acoording to him any agreement that does not make East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian State will not lead to sustainable peace.
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He presented his Credentials to H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations on 19 December 2006.
Education
Mr. Tanin is a graduate of the Kabul Medical UniversityKabul Medical University
Kabul Medical University is located in Kabul, Afghanistan on the campus of Kabul University. The medical institution was initially maintained by collaboration with the Turkish and French sponsors. KMF developed into a single autonomous University in 2005...
. He has completed BBC broadcasting, media management, finance management and other courses, including a one-year BBC leadership program.
Career
Tanin began his career in 1980 working as a journalist in KabulKabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. He co-authored, The Communist Regime in Afghanistan, a study of the political and social changes in Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992. He also authored, Afghanistan in the Twentieth Century. He produced a 29-part program, The Oral History of Afghanistan in the 20th Century, that was later broadcast on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
After 1992, Tanin was a freelance writer in France and Editor-in-Chief of Afkbar-e-Haftah and Sabawoon Magazine until 1993. Before beginning a career at the BBC, he was at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was a Research Fellow at the International Relations Department from 1994 to 1995.
Mr. Tanin worked as BBC Television Producer from 1995 to 2000 and as Senior Producer from 2000 to 2001). From 2001 to 2003 he was an editor for BBC World Service, Afghanistan and Central Asia (Persian Section). Following this he was an editor for Persian/Pashto Section, in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006, before taking his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and succeeding Ravan Farhadi, who had been permanent representative to the UN for more than ten years.
United Nations
During his tenure at the United Nations, Ambassador Tanin has held a number of other positions in the Organization. He was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the UN General Assembly during the 63rd session, and in that capacity he has chaired a number of General Assembly plenaries on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, including part of the 2008 High Level Meeting on Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue. Tanin has taken the position of Vice-president for a year, which began September 2008. Each year the U.N. General Assembly elects a new PresidentPresident of the United Nations General Assembly
The President of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly on a yearly basis.- Election :...
, 21 Vice Presidents, and Chairmen for the Assembly's six main committees.
Tanin also chairs the intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council reform.UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto
Miguel d'Escoto
Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, born in Los Angeles on February 5, 1933, is a Nicaraguan diplomat, politician and former Catholic priest of the Maryknoll congregation of priests. He was recently nominated as Libyan Representative to the UN, a request which is currently pending...
selected Tanin to jump start the stalled Security Council reform process, which got underway some 16 years ago. Despite his efforts, the security council reform remains deadlocked and Ambassador Tanin was reappointed to chair the ongoing negotiations during the 64th session of the General Assembly in 2009 and again for the 65th session in 2010.
Political Views
Although, according to Tanin, in the last years, Afghanistan has made significant steps forward, he stressed that Afghanistan needs the partnership of the United States for more years to come. Although Tanin is a supporter of the American presence in Afghanistan, he also expressed grave concern about Afghan civilian casualties as a result of the ongoing conflict .Tanin has taken a more willing position towards a process of reconciliation among all citizens and an integration of former combatants.
As Vice Chair of the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Committee since 2006, Ambassador Tanin has been involved in talks about creating a Palestinian State. Acoording to him any agreement that does not make East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian State will not lead to sustainable peace.