Ramos's sister aims for UN post

Ramos's sister aims for UN post

MANILA (Reuter): Philippine senator Leticia Ramos Shahani is vying to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, the Presidential Palace said in statement yesterday.

President Fidel Ramos said his younger sister had filed her candidacy for the top UN post while Solicitor General Raul Goco had applied for a position in the UN International Law Commission, the Malacanang Palace statement said.

Shahani served as a UN assistant secretary general for six years before her election as senator in 1987. She also served as the country's ambassador to Rumania, the former East Germany and Australia.

The current UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's five- year term ends this year and the United States has said it was prepared to use its veto to replace him with someone who will reform the world body.

If the 73 year-old Egyptian diplomat does leave his post, African nations, backed by China, insist another African replace him.