South Korea's foreign minister submits candidacy to be next UN chief
July 14, 2006
The Star (Malaysia)
Original Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/14/apworld/20060714121323&sec=apworld

SEOUL (AP) - South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon has formally submitted his candidacy to be the next U.N. secretary-general, a foreign ministry official said Friday.  
Ban presented an application to the chief of U.N. Security Council on Thursday via the South Korean mission in New York, the ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy.  
The move was expected and Ban has for months been waging a low-key campaign for the position.  
Other candidates include Sri Lanka's Jayantha Dhanapala, a former U.N. undersecretary for disarmament, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.  
Earlier this week, U.S. President George W. Bush said the United States was looking to an Asian candidate to replace outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose second five-year term expires Dec. 31.  
We're really looking in the Far East right now'' for the next secretary-general, Bush said, noting that tradition holds that the top U.N. post rotates by region.  
No Asian has served as the U.N. chief in more than 30 years, and there is strong sentiment among some U.N. members that Annan's replacement should be from the region.