Archives

UNITED NATIONS, Tuesday (AFP)

Asian nations will press the United Nations to make sure that an Asian takes over as UN Secretary General when Kofi Annan winds up his term in three years, the Philippines said.

"If we are serious in our intention to have an Asian succeed the secretary general, we must make our intentions known now," said Lauro Baja, the ambassador from the Philippines.

At a recent meeting of Asian nations, he said, "There was agreement that it should be Asia's turn in 2006."

Of the seven secretary generals since the world body was founded in the shadow of World War II, only one has been Asian - U Thant of Burma, who served from 1961 to 1971.

Annan, from Ghana, and Egypt's Boutros Boutros-Ghali have been the two UN chiefs from the African continent.

There has been one from the Americas, Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru, and three Europeans - Austria's Kurt Waldheim, Sweden's Dag Hammarskjold and Trygve Lie of Norway.

The secretary general is appointed by the UN General Assembly upon recommendation of the security council.

www.ppilk.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager