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7th Annual UN Global Classrooms Conference, Los Angeles

Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Burkle Center Senior Fellow and 39th Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

 Issues discussed:

  • Overview of personal experiences as a career diplomat
  • Relationship with colleague Ban Ki-Moon
  • How and where UN members meet and negotiate
  • Illustration of how one person can make a difference at any point in his/her life or career - brief comments on personal experience as a junior officer in the Thai Foreign Ministry and contribution of "preventive diplomacy" to the UN soon after graduating from UCLA
  • Discussion of “people skills” and why they are important in life

About the Speaker:

 Dr. Suphamongkhon teaches International Development 191D "Diplomacy, Globalization and Development." In addition to his activities on campus, Dr. Suphamongkhon has spoken to groups in the greater Los Angeles area including the Pacific Council on International Policy and USC's Center for Diplomacy.

Before joining UCLA, Dr. Suphamongkhon was the 39th Foreign Minister in Thailand and he has been a Member of the Thai Parliament for two terms (1995 and again 2001). He began his public service career in 1984 when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and worked at the Department of International Organizations and the Department of Political Affairs. He later served as a Thai diplomat to the United Nations in New York. He has also served as the Thai Trade Representative, which is equivalent to a Trade Minister in the Cabinet, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Speaker of Thailand's House of Representative and Chairman of Human Security Network.

Dr. Suphamongkhon received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, a M.A. in International Studies from the American University in Washington, D.C. and a Ph.D. in International Relations from USC, where he taught classes on international law, international relations and international organization.

About the UN Global Classrooms Conference:

This year, the United Nations Association of the United States of America's Global Classrooms: Los Angeles Program, in partnership with the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, was pleased to host the 2010 Global Classrooms: Los Angeles Model UN Conference on March 5, 2010. The conference attracted local students from the Southern California area. Students discussed a variety of topics, such as Trafficking of Wild Animals, Protection of Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Situation in Afghanistan. The 2010 Global Classrooms: Los Angeles Model UN Conference was a great academic and international experience for all. All information sent to faculty advisors is posted on the Global Classrooms: Los Angeles website, www.unausa.org/gclamun, and available to all delegates and others interested in the conference. The Global Classrooms: Los Angeles Model UN Conference is made possible though the generous support of our sponsors: The Annenberg Foundation, The Better World Fund, the Goldman Sachs Foundation, Microsoft Corporation, the National Geographic Education Foundation, the New York Times Foundation, Paul Newman/Newman's Own, and The Ross Institute.

View photos from the conference here.

Published: Friday, March 05, 2010

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