Thailand eyes key post at UN

Thailand eyes key post at UN

THAILAND: Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra used the Third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting in China on Tuesday to push for the nomination of his foreign minister as the next United Nations secretary general.

Speaking to delegates representing 22 Asian countries in the Chinese city of Qingdao, Thaksin said it was time for an Asian to take the post currently held by Kofi Annan.

"It has been more than 35 years since the last Asian held the post of UN secretary general," Thaksin said in a speech made available in Bangkok. He said it was "more than high time that an Asian stood for this candidacy when the term of the present secretary-general expires".

"And if you ask on the part of Thailand, well, I think, for Asia's sake, I may reluctantly have to sacrifice one of my most able cabinet ministers, my foreign minister, to make himself available!" Thaksin said. --DPA