India can get top UN jobhttp://images.photogallery.indiatimes.com/images/spacer.gif \* MERGEFORMATINET

By T. P. Sreenivasan
April 20, 2006
The Times of India
Original Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1496534.cms


Secretary-general Kofi Annan has, in an unusual move, made three high-level appointments, despite having less than a year in his second term at the UN. 

Mark Malloch Brown, who was inducted as the secretary-general's chef de cabinet in the aftermath of oil-for-food scandal, has been chosen to succeed Louise Frechette as deputy secretary-general. 

Brown, who played a key role in UN reform and development efforts, is a high-flier. His new post legitimises his extra-ordinary power and influence. Vijay Nambiar, a former permanent representative of India, has been appointed special advisor to the secretary-general at the level of under-secretary-general. 

His appointment is linked to criticism by developing countries that, with the departure of Iqbal Riza (Pakistan) and Lakhdar Brahimi (Algeria), the 38th floor is dominated by the West. Annan is likely to use the affable and able Indian diplomat to liaise with the G-77 at a high level. 

Alicia Barcena of Mexico is the new acting chef de cabinet. Changes in the UN jigsaw in an election year can be seen as pointers to the emerging dispensation. 

There were motivated reports earlier that a significant Asian would be appointed deputy secretary-general with the connivance of the US to deprive Asia of its turn to provide the next secretary-general. 

The US, it was said, would back Polish president Alexander Kwasenwsky to be the next secretary-general. The UN spokesman went out of his way to deny the story and said it was the secretary-general's intention to use his existing team to fill the position of deputy secretary-general, a clear hint that Brown would be appointed to the post. 

The appointment of Nambiar at the level of under-secretary-general will not raise questions about an Asian seeking the highest post in the UN. 

The election in 1996 did not follow the old pattern as the tussle between Boutros Ghali and the US continued well into the second half of the year. 

In the case of Ghali, the process began as early as March 1991, as members of the Security Council were excited at the prospect of influencing the choice of the next secretary-general. 

This time, US permanent representative John Bolton has already secured an agreement to establish a list by the middle of the year. The race has begun. 

Asian horses are already raring to go, with the announced candidatures of South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand having gathered momentum. 

Many unannounced candidates are also waiting in the wings - among them is a Jordanian prince, who, at 41, is the permanent representative of Jordan, and Shashi Tharoor, the highest-ranking Indian in the secretariat, who is also a renowned writer. 

Many others may emerge by the middle of the year. India has not com-mitted itself to any candidate, nor has it announced a candidate. The dilemma for India is not about finding a suitable candidate to put forward. 

It is about the incompatibility bet-ween seeking a candidature and aspiring to become a permanent member. We seem to pin our hopes on Africans returning to G-4 to move the resolution on UN reform. 

If the first hurdle of securing a two-thirds majority for the resolution is crossed, Indian permanent representative Nirupam Sen has said, it would be logical for us to focus on permanent membership. 

But since that does not seem to be in the realm of possibility, we should not give up the option of putting up a candidate for the post of secretary-general. 

President Bush virtually ruled out Security Council expansion till the rest of the reform agenda was completed. 

Whether he encouraged the prime minister to put up an Indian candidate for secretary-general's post is unknown. 

But with the dramatically new relationship with India, the US is not likely to veto an Indian. A good Indian candidate, with the firm backing of the government, may become an irresistible choice. The time has come for us to test the waters. 

The writer is a retired diplomat.