Asia-Pacific

Thai coup leaders ban 'political activities'

(China Daily/AP)
Updated: 2006-09-22 07:23

Africa, in theory, should have handed over the secretary-general's spacious office to Asia on Jan. 1, 2002. But Annan was selected for a second term in 2001, in part because Asia could not agree on a candidate, giving Africa an unprecedented 15 years at the helm of the world body.

When Annan was elected, African and Asian nations agreed that the next secretary-general should be Asian, though US Ambassador John Bolton has said the job should go to the best-qualified candidate.

There are currently seven candidates and more could emerge. The newest, Afghanistan's former finance minister Ashraf Ghani, officially entered the race on Wednesday when he was nominated by President Hamid Karzai.

The Afghan government said Ghani, the chancellor of Kabul University who spent 10 years working in China, India and Russia for the World Bank, "is uniquely equipped" to lead the UN now, when imagination and leadership are needed to promote security and development.

In addition to Surakiart, he faces South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon; UN undersecretary-general for public affairs Shashi Tharoor of India; Jordan's UN Ambassador Prince Zeid al Hussein; former UN disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka; and Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the only non-Asian.

In an informal, secret poll of the 15 Security Council members on Thursday, before Vike-Freiberga entered the race, South Korea's Ban came in first followed by India's Tharoor. Surakiat was third, with Jordan's Zeid fourth and Dhanapala fifth.

Thailand's Sihasak said "ASEAN has indicated that they continue to back Surakiart as the new secretary-general."

"I think the strength of Dr. Surakiart is first of all his qualifications. Second Thailand, our country, has always played a moderating role in international affairs, a bridge builder," he said.