Bolton suggests next U.N. head be female

By Yoshikazu Shirakawa
April 7, 2006
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun
Original Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20060407TDY01004.htm

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Wednesday that a woman should be considered to succeed U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, whose term expires at the end of the year. 
Talking about U.N. reform before a U.S. House of Representatives committee, Bolton said that many countries proposed electing the next U.N. secretary general from an Asian country based on the regional rotation system, but no woman has ever been considered as a candidate. 
There are many Asian candidates, but none are women, Bolton said. 
No woman has ever been elected U.N. secretary general. 
Regarding the regional rotation system, Bolton also stressed that priority be given to picking the right person rather than the right region. He also said that if the rotation system is applied, a candidate from an Eastern European country should be given priority because no Eastern Europeans have ever been elected to the post. 
Three candidates from Asia, including South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon, have declared their candidacy for the post, but more candidates are expected to enter the race.