(United Nations, New York)
The race to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is picking up
speed, with South Koreas candidate apparently the front runner,
though major powers are yet to reveal their hands.
As Annan prepares to host his final United Nations General Assembly
next week before retiring at the end of the year, South Korean
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon is basking in his second straw poll
victory in the race.
But, diplomats say, the intrigue is far from over, with more
candidates expected to emerge, and plenty of international
diplomatic horse-trading to come.
Ban finished ahead of UN Under Secretary-General for Public Affairs
Shashi Tharoor of India and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai, in his second straw poll win since July, the Argentine
and Chinese ambassadors said.
Jordans UN Ambassador Prince Zeid al-Hussein, who entered the race
to succeed Annan only on September 5, came in fourth ahead of
former UN disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan, they
added.
It was the same order (for the top three) as in July, Argentinas
UN Ambassador Cesar Mayoral told reporters. His Chinese colleague
Wang Guangya later confirmed Bans victory, saying he was now
clearly the frontrunner.
Things can always change, but now he is leading, Wang said.
A career diplomat, Ban served as Seouls chief envoy to the world
body from 2001 to 2003 and also acted as the chief secretary to
former UN General Assembly president Han Seung-soo. The 62-year-old
foreign minister also previously served at South Koreas embassy in
Washington.
Prince Zeids fourth place came as a surprise and a disappointment
to many diplomats as his late entry into what had widely been
viewed as a lackluster field had fueled expectations that he could
emerge as a viable compromise candidate.
The 15 members of the council had three options to signal their
opinions of the five contenders: encourage, discourage or no
opinion.
Sources said Ban received 14 encouragements and one discouragement
while Tharoor got 10 encouragements, three discouragements and two
abstentions.
All five declared candidates hail from what the United Nations
regards as the Asian region amid a consensus here that it is now
Asias turn to assume the world bodys top job in line with an
unwritten rule of regional rotation.
The United States and certain other Western nations have said they
would like to find the best qualified person for the job,
regardless of where he or she comes from.
Asia has not had a UN chief since Myanmars U Thant finished his
second term in 1971. Under UN Charter rules, the secretary-general
is elected by the 192-member General Assembly under recommendation
from the Security Council, whose five permanent members the
United States, China, France, Britain and Russia have veto
power.
On Friday, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania officially put forward
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga as a candidate to succeed
Annan.
The 68-year-old would become the first woman secretary-general in
the world bodys 61-year history, but her chances of winning
appeared slim.
In practice, the five permanent members have dominated the
secretary-general succession process.
And several diplomats said the winner will have to be acceptable to
both the United States and China.
The buzz on the diplomatic circuit is that Goh Chok Tong,
former premier of Singapore, has the required stature to win if he
chooses to run.
Singapores ambassador to the United States Chan Heng Chee was also
viewed as another attractive candidate and, according to Time
magazine, as a US favourite.
Greeces UN Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, the current president
of the council, told reporters that he planned to convene another
informal meeting on Annans succession late this month. He said he
would present his council colleagues with several proposals,
including having another straw poll or a formal vote.
