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UNGA president says to work with Security Council on selection of new Secretary-General

Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Mogens Lykketoft said Tuesday that he will continue to interact with the Security Council on the selection of the world body's new Secretary-General.

Lykketoft made the remarks at a Security Council annual debate on working methods. It was the first time in eight years that the President of the General Assembly has addressed the most powerful UN body.

He said the working methods of the 15-nation council are of great interest to the wider UN membership, especially during the time when the next Secretary-General is being appointed.

An election is due to be held in 2016 to determine who succeeds Ban Ki-moon whose term as the eighth United Nations Secretary-General will conclude on Dec. 31, 2016. According to the UN charter, the Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

While noting that he has started the discussion with current Security Council presidency on soliciting candidates for the position of Secretary-General, Lykketoft said he will "continue to interact with the Presidency with a view to jointly circulating a letter to the membership inviting candidates to be presented in a timely manner and describing the entire process."

Given the critical role that the Secretary General plays in ensuring that this Organization is run as efficiently and effectively as possible, Lykketoft also stressed that "the process for selecting the next person at the helm must be as open and as thorough as possible."

Lykketoft, Denmark's former parliament speaker, started his year-long UNGA presidency in September.

Tuesday's event was the sixth annual open debate organized by the Security Council on working methods. It was expected to address key concerns about the working methods of the Council, including transparency, participation, accountability and efficiency. Endit