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Lajcak becomes Slovakia's official candidate for post of UN secretary general

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak has become a candidate for the post of UN secretary-general when the cabinet approved his nomination at its session on Wednesday.

"It´s an historical moment. It is the first time ever that Slovakia has nominated a candidate for such an important and prestigious international position," said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Another often mentioned potential candidate for Slovakia was Jan Kubis, UN special representative for Iraq, who also served as foreign minister of Slovakia from 2006 to 2009.

UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft said earlier this month that another session of public auditions with new candidates for the position of next UN secretary-general will be scheduled on June 7.

The candidates will be given ten minutes each for an opening speech in which they should explain their current vision concerning the future of the UN, followed by a question period.

Lykketoft said there is no official deadline for UN chief candidates being nominated and he urged member states and potential candidates to come forward now.

Under the UN Charter, the UN secretary-general shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. In practice, the 15-member Security Council and its five permanent members will make the final choice and send a single candidate to the General Assembly for approval.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is going to conclude his term at the end of 2016. The council's decision to select the top leader of the world organization shall come late this year. Endit