Shashi Tharoor India's candidate for UN Sec General
New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) India today announced senior UN official Shashi Tharoor as its candidate for the post of United Nations Secretary General.
''India strongly supports the principle of regional rotation under which the next secretary general should be from Asia,'' a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry said.
Mr Tharoor, currently UN Under Secretary General (Communications), has been nominated on the basis of his impeccable credentials and his strong commitment to the developing countries, he said.
''It is a matter of pride that the son of India and Asia should be the next UN Secretary General,'' the spokesman said.
He said India had approached other Asian groups within the UN for Mr Tharoor's candidature and was seeking the support of other regional groups, including the African group.
''India has informed through diplomatic channels other members of the UN and requested for their support.'' The election to the UN's top post will be held in October and the Security Council's process of making the list of candidates to succeed U N Chief Kofi Annan will begin by mid-July.
Mr Tharoor, an Indian who has written eight books and numerous articles, was named the ''Global Leader of Tomorrow'' at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1998.
MORE UNI YJ RR HT1805