Annan Nominated to Top UN Post for Second Term

Annan Nominated to Top UN Post for Second Term

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United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan wan unanimously nominated by the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday to his current post as the world's top diplomat for a second five-year term beginning January 1, 2002.

The United Nations General Assembly is expected to approve the nomination with a vote scheduled for Friday.

The Security Council's nomination has been a forgone conclusion since he announced in March that he would run again and no candidate opposed him.

Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Yingfan told reporters after a private meeting of the Security Council that the unanimous support given to Annan for a second term showed that his dedication to U.N. responsibility and his efforts to make the United Nations play a greater role in international affairs have been highly appreciated by the member states including China.

He said that "we support him for a second term" despite the fact that many Asian countries think that after Annan's current term, it should be the turn for Asian countries to nominate a candidate on the basis of U.N. practice.

He said, the expectation or wish of the Asian group of countries should be positively considered by other member states of the United Nations.

President of the Security Council and Bangladeshi Permanent Representative to the United Nations Anwarul Chowdhury said the council's nomination was made in recognition of the excellent work Annan has done.

A career U.N. official, Annan became the first black African national to take the top U.N. post on January 1, 1997, and his current term expires on December 31 this year.

The 63-year-old Ghanaian hails from a merchant family of the Fante ethnic group and is married to a Swedish artist and lawyer. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in the United States.