Foreign leaders want me to take up UN top job

June 28, 2006
ExpressIndia.com
Original Source: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=70100

 
 
Kuala Lumpur, June 28: Malaysian former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said he was being approached to throw his hat in the ring for the post of UN Secretary General, but he had yet to decide on running. 
Anwar said foreign ministers and leaders had asked him in the past three months whether he would vie for the hotly contested post, which is expected to go to an Asian diplomat. 
Yes, there have been approaches and a series of discussions by many quarters, but I have not given any clear indication, he said in an interview. 
The veteran politician said talks with leaders had been private and informal, with people sounding out his ideas about the post. 
People do ask. Even here and overseas, people do ask. Even governments, foreign ministers, heads of government have raised this, but my answer remains consistent. Firstly, it's premature, and number two, I've not given any serious thought to that, he said. 
Most of these questions are exploring, trying to explore the possibility, he added, declining to reveal which leaders had raised the idea with him. Asian countries have intensified campaigning in recent weeks, and top contenders include Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, Sri Lanka's Jayantha Dhanapala, a presidential adviser, and South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon. 
Ramping up the heat, India also made a bid this month, putting forward Shashi Tharoor, an Under Secretary at the United Nations.