Security Council To Vote On New Sec-Gen Next Week

Security Council Set To Hold Formal Vote Next Week On New UN Secretary-General

The Security Council is likely to hold a formal vote early next week on the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Council’s president said today after the 15-member body held its fourth informal ballot on who will succeed Kofi Annan when he steps down on 31 December.

Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan, which holds the Council presidency for the month of October, said he was not authorized to disclose the result of today’s straw poll because of “a gentlemen’s agreement” with the Council.

“I think the sense of the Council is that on the basis of today’s ballot, the Council is now ready for a formal ballot,” he told reporters after the meeting. “We will discuss this matter in tomorrow morning’s informal consultations and take a decision on it. The likelihood is that we will be having this formal vote early next week.”

In response to reporters’ questions, Ambassador Oshima said the Council’s vote was likely to come as early as next Monday.

The Council will then make its recommendation to the 192-member General Assembly, which formally elects the world body’s new Secretary-General.

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