31 August 2012 | This event was the fourth of the CIL Fireside Chat Series on International Law and Diplomacy.

Singapore and the United Nations

Introduction

Since its establishment in 1945, the United Nations (UN) has been the most crucial inter-governmental organization in the world and plays a pivotal role in shaping international relations. In the penultimate session of the CIL Fireside Chat Series for 2012, CIL brought together diplomats who have represented Singapore at the UN and a leading expert on the UN to share their perspectives on how the UN operates and how Singapore, as a small state, can influence decision making at this complex body.

Hosted by Prof S. Jayakumar, himself a former Permanent Representative to the UN and a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the panel featured Prof Simon Chesterman, Dean of the NUS Law School, an authority on UN Law and Practice as well as eminent Singaporean diplomats, Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon, both of whom have served as Permanent Representatives to the UN, and Ms Foo Chi Hsia who was part of Singapore’s delegation to the UN Security Council from 2001-2002.

The discussion provided a unique insight into the inner workings of the UN, the skillful diplomacy and negotiations that transpires “in the corridors”, and Singapore’s experiences at the UN.

Panelists:

Ambassador Tommy Koh
Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon
Professor Simon Chesterman
Ms Foo Chi Hsia

Host:

Professor S. Jayakumar

About the CIL Fireside Chat Series

The CIL Fireside Chat Series is a series of talks hosted by Prof S. Jayakumar and Prof Tommy Koh which explores the interplay between diplomacy and international law.