Bangkok--22 Oct--UN Thai Prime Minister to Speak at Official Observance on 24 October The United Nations Day will be marked this year in Bangkok by a joint exhibition by the UN family at the biggest shopping complex in the capital. The Prime Minister of Thailand, Surayud Chulanont, will speak at the official observance on 24 October. Twenty-two UN entities and international organizations with offices in Bangkok 1 will take part in the exhibition at the CentralWorld — one of Asia’s largest shopping malls —from 23 to 25 October. Also participating is the United Nations Association of Thailand (UNAT). The exhibition, which adopts a uniform design to present “One UN” to the public, will illustrate the very diverse ways in which the UN works to improve the lives of people in the Asian-Pacific region and across the globe. The exhibition will be bilingual — in English and Thai — to cater to both the Thai public and overseas visitors. It will be accompanied by musical and other performances and some special events during the three-day period. The official observance of the UN Day will take place on 24 October at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok. The Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, and the Foreign Minister, Nitya Pibulsonggram, will attend. Prime Minister Surayud will also deliver an address. Others speaking at the event will be Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and Ambassador Manaspas Xuto, President of the United Nations Association of Thailand. The event will include a flag raising ceremony, and performances by Jiranant “Me” Kijprasan, a popular Thai singer from RS Promotion, Satri Wat Rakhang School marching band, Orchestra of Mater Dei Institute, and children from American School of Bangkok. Note to Journalists: you are cordially invited to the official observance and the opening of the exhibition. The observance will take place 1500 — 1600, 24 October, at UNCC. The exhibition will be officially opened at 1300, 23 October, at CentralWorld, by Raj Kumar, Principal Officer of ESCAP, G. Giridhar, Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Chakarin Chayabongse, Secretary-General of UNAT, and a representative of CentralWorld. Paradon, a band, will perform at the opening. Please note that parking space at UNCC will be very limited on 24 October. Alternative parking is available next door at Wat Mongkutkasattaram, Krungkasem Road. For more information, please contact: UN Information Services Bangkok Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861/4/6/7/9; Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052 Email: [email protected]