South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon has formally
registered at the UN as a candidate for the UN secretary-general,
the country's Foreign Ministry confirmed today.
South Korea's mission to the UN submitted the application form
to the chairman of the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday,
an official of the ministry said.
The UN Security Council will conduct an informal voting next
week to select a candidate to be recommended for approval at the UN
General Assembly. The final results of the election will come out
as early as September.
The secretary-general is appointed by the 191-nation General
Assembly on the recommendation of the UN Security Council. A
candidate needs the approval of nine of the 15 council members and
can be vetoed by any of the five permanent member states.
Ban, 62, announced his intention to work as the UN chief on
February 14 with full supports of his government.
Local reports said earlier that South Korea has gained supports
from at least 71 of the total of 191 UN member states.
Ban is the fourth Asian candidate to register with the UN for
the candidacy following Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai, Sri Lanka's Jayantha Dhanapala and Indian nominee
Shashi Tharoor.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2006)
