Tharoor out of UN top job contention

[jonahpach]

Hello Mehul here's some good news for you

Tharoor bows out of UN race

By IANS
Tuesday October 3, 08:25 AM

United Nations, Oct 3 (IANS) India's nominee Shashi Tharoor bowed out of the race for UN secretary general after South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon won Monday's crucial straw poll with no opposition from any of the five veto-bearing powers.

Ban received 14 'encourage' and one 'no-opinion' votes in the informal poll among 15 Security Council ambassadors on seven candidates vying for the job to replace Kofi Annan, who leaves office Dec 31.

For the fourth time in a row Shashi Tharoor, 50, currently UN undersecretary-general for public information, finished second with 10 votes in favour - same as in the first two ballots, but two more than in the last one.

Tharoor's candidature sank as there was one veto-holding member among the three voting against him. Two others had 'no opinion'. To be recommended to the General Assembly, a candidate must get at least nine positive votes and no veto in the Security Council.

With Ban's selection nearly assured, thanks to his practically unbeatable lead over his six competitors in the poll, Tharoor made it clear he was withdrawing from the race.

'I have written to Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to express my warmest congratulations on the outcome of the poll,' Tharoor said. 'It is clear that he will be our next secretary-general.

Tharoor told reporters he would 'strongly support' Ban because 'the United Nations and the world has a stake in his success.'

In third place was Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the only woman and non-Asian in the race, with five positive votes, two less than in the last straw poll.

An official poll is expected to be held on Oct 9 after which the 192-member UN General Assembly must approve the council's recommendation.

The informal poll was the fourth held since July and the first to distinguish between permanent members and the other 10 nations, elected for two-year terms.

Council members marked ballots to 'encourage, discourage or express no opinion' as in three previous informal polls. Each member could vote for more than one of the seven candidates.

The five permanent members with veto power - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -used blue-coloured ballots, while the 10 rotating members used white ones.

[mehulkamdar]

Good riddance to bad rubbish! Grumpy gifted us a lovely bottle of Talisker. I am going to open it today - this is definitely something to celebrate!