SM Goh has the stature to run for UN Secretary General
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(United Nations, New York) •
The race to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is picking up speed, with South KoreaÂ’s candidate apparently the front runner, though major powers are yet to reveal their hands.
As Annan prepares to host his final United Nations General Assembly next week before retiring at the end of the year, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon is basking in his second “straw poll” victory in the race.
But, diplomats say, the intrigue is far from over, with more candidates expected to emerge, and plenty of international diplomatic horse-trading to come.
Ban finished ahead of UN Under Secretary-General for Public Affairs Shashi Tharoor of India and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, in his second straw poll win since July, the Argentine and Chinese ambassadors said.
JordanÂ’s UN Ambassador Prince Zeid al-Hussein, who entered the race to succeed Annan only on September 5, came in fourth ahead of former UN disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan, they added.
“It was the same order (for the top three) as in July,” Argentina’s UN Ambassador Cesar Mayoral told reporters. His Chinese colleague Wang Guangya later confirmed Ban’s victory, saying he was now clearly the frontrunner.
“Things can always change, but now he is leading,” Wang said.
A career diplomat, Ban served as SeoulÂ’s chief envoy to the world body from 2001 to 2003 and also acted as the chief secretary to former UN General Assembly president Han Seung-soo. The 62-year-old foreign minister also previously served at South KoreaÂ’s embassy in Washington.
Prince ZeidÂ’s fourth place came as a surprise and a disappointment to many diplomats as his late entry into what had widely been viewed as a lackluster field had fueled expectations that he could emerge as a viable compromise candidate.
The 15 members of the council had three options to signal their opinions of the five contenders: “encourage”, “discourage” or “no opinion.”
Sources said Ban received 14 encouragements and one discouragement while Tharoor got 10 encouragements, three discouragements and two abstentions.
All five declared candidates hail from what the United Nations regards as the Asian region amid a consensus here that it is now AsiaÂ’s turn to assume the world bodyÂ’s top job in line with an unwritten rule of regional rotation.
The United States and certain other Western nations have said they would like to find the best qualified person for the job, regardless of where he or she comes from.
Asia has not had a UN chief since Myanmar’s U Thant finished his second term in 1971. Under UN Charter rules, the secretary-general is elected by the 192-member General Assembly under recommendation from the Security Council, whose five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Britain and Russia — have veto power.
On Friday, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania officially put forward Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga as a candidate to succeed Annan.
The 68-year-old would become the first woman secretary-general in the world bodyÂ’s 61-year history, but her chances of winning appeared slim.
In practice, the five permanent members have dominated the secretary-general succession process.
And several diplomats said the winner will have to be acceptable to both the United States and China.
The buzz on the diplomatic circuit is that Goh Chok Tong, former premier of Singapore, has the required stature to win if he chooses to run.
SingaporeÂ’s ambassador to the United States Chan Heng Chee was also viewed as another attractive candidate and, according to Time magazine, as a US favourite.
GreeceÂ’s UN Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, the current president of the council, told reporters that he planned to convene another informal meeting on AnnanÂ’s succession late this month. He said he would present his council colleagues with several proposals, including having another straw poll or a formal vote. -
I'd rather have Prof Chan as the Sec-Gen.
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wow. cool~
good for him -
the lee can aim for world domination after getting goh landed as UN sec gen..
afterall.. goh seems like being made used in sg.. -
Tommy koh bah
served the Un once and is experienced -
singapore still need him to fight for singapore in case our neighbours bring us to the international court again...Originally posted by 0lala:Tommy koh bah
served the Un once and is experienced
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with regards to the topic... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahaha................
Only Singaporeans do not know what pariahs their leaders are in the eyes of the world.
You think they are blind to the fake democracy in Singapore?
It is like saying the butchers of the students in China has the stature...
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahaha................
GOOD JOKE -
hahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahah
senior minister of a country that does this has the stature?
[/b][/quote]
GOOD JOKE -
Wat this useless SM did 4 Spore for the past 10yrs,nothing just talk c sing song!!
Singapore has all these problems now cauz of his inactive n tried 2 b nice attitude in solving economic problems.
Visiting Middle East so many times!! have u c the influx of Arab ppls n their invetments here. During the July/August holidays in 2006,all the four or five stars hotels were fully occupied by these Arab ppls in KL.
Wat the useless guy GCT!!!
If he was selected as an UN Secretary General,then the day will be end of the world!! -
wah, from ur nicK I assume u r born in 1988? 18 years old? if u r it is kinda hard to see youth nowadays so politically mature, in tat senseOriginally posted by foomwee88:Wat this useless SM did 4 Spore for the past 10yrs,nothing just talk c sing song!!
Singapore has all these problems now cauz of his inactive n tried 2 b nice attitude in solving economic problems.
Visiting Middle East so many times!! have u c the influx of Arab ppls n their invetments here. During the July/August holidays in 2006,all the four or five stars hotels were fully occupied by these Arab ppls in KL.
Wat the useless guy GCT!!!
If he was selected as an UN Secretary General,then the day will be end of the world!! -
Nobody from Singapore would run for the post. We've already officially pledged our support for the Thai DPM and if GCT or Prof Chan runs then our neighbours in ASEAN would be severely displeased.
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bias!Originally posted by LazerLordz:I'd rather have Prof Chan as the Sec-Gen.
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Originally posted by Texcoco II:
oh yea sure.. if the voting polls are held in geylang..yishun..bishan..etc.. but not in an international body unless the UN likes what it sees is happening right now in s'pore over the chee affair..
(United Nations, New York) •
The buzz on the diplomatic circuit [b] is that Goh Chok Tong, former premier of Singapore, has the required stature to win if he chooses to run.
SingaporeÂ’s ambassador to the United States Chan Heng Chee was also viewed as another attractive candidate and, according to Time magazine, as a US favourite.
[/b] -
The five permanent members have always formed the veto power for the Sec-Gen.Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:Nobody from Singapore would run for the post. We've already officially pledged our support for the Thai DPM and if GCT or Prof Chan runs then our neighbours in ASEAN would be severely displeased.
United States favors our guys. -
US favor us because we dont dare to go against their policies.
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cant he juz retire...
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Originally posted by onceinabluemoon:
GOOD JOKE[/b][/quote]
hahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahah
senior minister of a country that does this has the stature?
[b][/b]
abit out topic.
machiam drug addicts sia. -
Because without us, America's influence in the Indian Ocean and South East Asia will drop by at least 50%.Originally posted by sgheartland:US favor us because we dont dare to go against their policies. -
Poor NSF policeman doing such lame duty...
I was on alert till like 11pm last nite coz some delegates having their Dinner...
Gosh I hope this IMF ends soon...
Anyway, I really would like to see him as a UN-sec gen... How fitting. But I wonder if he would be too soft or compromising. -
Originally posted by onceinabluemoon:
GOOD JOKE[/b][/quote]
hahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahah
senior minister of a country that does this has the stature?
[b][/b]
these 2 pics made my blood boil. -
USELESS gOH CANT EVEN WIN HG N PP in election,TALKG C 2 BE A POTENTIAL UN SG!!!!
If I was Goh ,i hve no face to attend parliament meeting lah!!!
Shameless Goh !!! xie tie!!! -
How about Fiona Xie as the UN Secretary General?
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But now the Thai DPM has been arrested by the coup already rite? So no more candidate from ASEAN, so Ah Goh can run....Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:Nobody from Singapore would run for the post. We've already officially pledged our support for the Thai DPM and if GCT or Prof Chan runs then our neighbours in ASEAN would be severely displeased. -
NO NO, SM Goh run for sec-gen post, he will have to take a huge paycut.
BTW, the UN sec-gen only receives 200,000+ a year. -
Very interesting turn of events.Originally posted by Himbo:But now the Thai DPM has been arrested by the coup already rite? So no more candidate from ASEAN, so Ah Goh can run....
but in any case, as I've said, the Big 5 and the United States has the final say.