Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary Regarding UN Security Council Decision to Recommend General Assembly Appoint ROK Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary General

Unofficial translation from Russian

The UN Security Council on October 9 adopted by acclamation (that is by consensus, without vote) Resolution 1715 recommending that the General Assembly appoint Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Ban Ki-moon to be the new Secretary General of the United Nations to a term from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. It is expected that the General Assembly will already before this week's end adopt a decision to appoint Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary General.

From the outset of the appointment process for Kofi Annan's successor, Russia had presumed that an Asian representative must be at the post of the next Secretary General in line with the principle of rotation and existing arrangements. We are satisfied that the process of his election has ended this way.

We supported Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Ban Ki-moon as candidate since the moment of his nomination. We consider him a highly qualified professional who will be able to fulfill the duties of the UN Secretary General successfully.

October 10, 2006