Sri Lanka seeks India's nod for top UN post
New Delhi - With less than eight months to go for Secretary General Kofi Annan's term to expire, Sri Lanka Monday sought India's support for the candidature of Jayanta Dhanapala for the top UN post.

May 8, 2006
India eNews.com
Original Source: http://indiaenews.com/2006-05/7141-sri-lanka-seeks-indias-nod-un.htm

New Delhi - With less than eight months to go for Secretary General Kofi Annan's term to expire, Sri Lanka Monday sought India's support for the candidature of Jayanta Dhanapala for the top UN post.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera brought up the issue of Dhanapala's candidature during a meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma. 

New Delhi did not make any commitment to Colombo. 'India has taken note of the request,' is all external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna would say. 

Lobbying for the job has intensified among Asian nations who believe it is Asia's turn to be in charge of the world body. 

Dhanapala, an insider to the UN and a diplomat known for his commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation regime, has tough competition from Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who is said to enjoy the support of the US, Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

India is yet to make its stand clear. The names of at least three Indians are doing the rounds in diplomatic circles: former foreign secretary and India's current ambassador to Russia Kanwal Sibal, former external affairs and finance minister Jaswant Singh and Shashi Tharoor, presently the Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.

Many believe that it is time to have a woman UN Secretary-General. Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland is a top favourite.