Tanzanian Foreign Minister named UN deputy

United Nations, Jan 6: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has chosen Tanzanian Foreign Minister Asha-Rose Migiro as his deputy, fulfilling a pledge to name a woman to the No. 2 UN post, the United Nations said yesterday.

Ban called Migiro ''a highly respected leader'' who has championed the cause of developing countries and displayed ''outstanding management skills.'' ''I ... intend to delegate much of the management and administrative work of the secretariat, as well as socioeconomic affairs and development issues, under a clear line of authority to ensure that the secretariat will function in a more effective and efficient manner,'' Ban said in a statement.

Migiro, 50, reformed the ministry's administration, bringing in new blood and setting management goals for top aides after being appointed foreign minister in January 2006, said Tuvako Manongi, Tanzania's deputy UN ambassador.

''Initially, these weren't very popular with her staff, but she has made the ministry run more efficiently,'' Manongi told Reuters.

Migiro, who served as community development minister before heading the foreign ministry, has a master's degree in law from the University of Dar es Salaam and a doctorate in law from Germany's Konstanz University.

Ban called Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to inform him of his choice, and the president was ''very happy and proud'' to hear of the appointment, spokesman Premi Kibanga said. ''Dr Migiro will be made available immediately to take up her new post.'' Ban, the former South Korean foreign minister, became the world body's eighth secretary-general on Monday, succeeding Kofi Annan of Ghana.

RESIGNATIONS REQUESTED

Annan created the post of deputy secretary-general during his 10 years as UN leader, and Migiro will be only the third person to hold the job after Louise Frechette of Canada and Mark Malloch Brown, a Briton.

Ban has been trying to ensure balance in his choice of top aides between permanent Security Council members instrumental in his election and key developing nations.

He has also vowed to name women to top positions, including the key post of deputy secretary-general.

To speed the transition to a new team, Ban yesterday sent letters to some 60 senior officials asking them to offer their resignations, U.N. chief spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

''He will review the offers of resignation and may decide to retain the experience of some senior officials to assist him in the discharge of his responsibilities,'' Montas told reporters.

Ban has so far named just a few senior appointees in addition to Migiro.

He has chosen Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar as his chief of staff, Haitian broadcast journalist Michele Montas as his spokeswoman, Mexican environmentalist Alicia Barcena Ibarra as undersecretary-general for administration and management, and senior British diplomat John Holmes as undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

REUTERS

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