Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando said Thursday that he would be a candidate to succeed Kofi Annan ( news - web sites) as U.N. secretary-general in 2007 if nominated.
By tradition, the secretary-general's job rotates every 10 years by region, and it was Asia's turn to propose a candidate last year, but Asian countries were divided and there was no front-runner.
At the same time, there was wide support to give Annan a second five-year term because Africa's 10 years at the helm had been split after Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, was denied a second term by the United States, which has veto power in the Security Council.
Annan, who is from Ghana, was unanimously re-elected last year and began his second term on Jan. 1.
When his term ends on Dec. 31, 2006, it will be Asia's choice again.
"If someone were to nominate me, then I would consider my own candidacy," Fernando told a news conference at the U.N. Correspondents Association. "I am certainly qualified for the post, but there are many others who are qualified as well."
Other Asians mentioned as possible candidates include Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga, former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan and Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Also considered possible candidates are Bangladesh's former U.N. Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, who is now a U.N. undersecretary-general for least developed countries, Singapore's U.N. Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani and former Singapore ambassador Tommy Koh.
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