New Delhi
15 June 2006
India on Thursday formally announced the candidature of Mr Shashi
Tharoor, Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information at the
United Nations, for the post of UN Secretary General.
New Delhi said it strongly supports the principle of regional rotation under which the next
Secretary General of the United Nations should be from Asia. It has informed, through
diplomatic channels, other member states of the UN of its nomination of Mr Tharoor's
candidature and requested their support.
"The Asian Group within the UN had approached other Groups, seeking their support for
this principle, and the African Group has already confirmed its support. We hope that
other regional groups would also articulate support for the rotational principle," the
spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs told reporters.
"India also believes that a prospective UN Secretary General should have impeccable
credentials, be acceptable to the broadest possible membership of the UN and have a
strong commitment to the reform of the UN and the interests of the developing countries.
[Mr Tharoor's] internationally acclaimed stature and experience make him eminently
suitable to become the next Secretary General of the UN," the spokesman observed.
"Mr Tharoor, an Indian national, is a distinguished son of Asia, who has served the UN in
diverse capacities since 1978. During his long innings at the UN, Mr. Tharoor has held a
number of key positions in various areas including peacekeeping, UNHCR and UN's
communications strategy, with particular responsibility for ensuring the coherence and
effectiveness of the UN's external message. Mr Tharoor has been closely involved in
the process of the reform of the UN," the spokesman said.
When asked whether India was still interested in a seat in the UN Security Council, the
spokesman said, "They are separate issues and it is incorrect to perceive India's
support for one as dilution of our commitment to the other."
"India is strongly committed to comprehensive reforms of the United Nations and
believes that the reform and expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and
non-permanent categories is central to the process of UN reforms. [We remain]
committed, I may mention, to the G-4 Initiative," it was added.
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