India backs Ban for second term as UN Secretary General

New Delhi, Jun 7: India has declared its support for the re-election bid of Ban Ki-Moon as Secretary General of the United Nations. The Asian Group at the UN met in New York yesterday and endorsed, by acclamation, Ban's candidature for a second term.

"India's Acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, was present at the meeting and conveyed India''s support in the matter," an External Affairs Ministry statement said here.

The Chair of the Asian Group will be writing to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council, informing them of the decision of the group. Yesterday, Ban had announced his bid to seek re-election to the top post of the United Nations

Ban has led the global body since Jan 1, 2007 and his term ends on Dec 31.

The then UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor was in the fray for the top UN post in 2006 and had come a close second behind Ban in each of the four straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council.

After the fourth poll, Ban emerged as the only candidate with the support of all five permanent members, each of whom has the power to veto candidates.

After the vote, Tharoor withdrew his candidacy expressing his confidence for Ban to win.

PTI