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Announcement Of New UN Secretary-General Soon

Published: Fri 13 Oct 2006 11:34 AM
New UN Secretary-General Likely To Be Appointed By Acclamation Tomorrow
New York, Oct 12 2006 3:00PM
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea is likely to be elected by acclamation as next Secretary-General of the United Nations when the General Assembly meets at 3 p.m. tomorrow to formally appoint the successor to Kofi Annan, who steps down on 31 December.
The Secretary-General designate will not take the oath of office immediately, as is usual, but at a later date in December, which would allow him to finish some of his current responsibilities as his country’s foreign minister. He will begin his five-year term on 1 January.
Laying out the procedure for the appointment, General Assembly spokesperson Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte told a news briefing today that Assembly Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa of Bahrain will first invite the Security Council President for October, Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, to report on the Council’s recommendation.
On Monday, the 15-member body chose Mr. Ban as its nominee for the post, but the formal appointment rests with the 192-member Assembly.
The Assembly will then “take action either by acclamation, as is usually the practice, or of course you know the possibility exists that somebody may ask for a vote, though we think it’s unlikely,” Ms. Bindley-Taylor Sainte said.
Statements will be made by Sheikha Haya, Mr. Annan, the regional group chairpersons, the representative of the United States as host country and the Secretary-General designate himself.
Mr. Ban is expected to talk to the news media following his appointment.
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