Tharoor, who is also an author, has been serving the UN since 1978. He is currently undersecretary-general for communications and public information.
NEW DELHI: India will field high-profile diplomat Shashi Tharoor as its candidate to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who retires at the end of the year. The decision may be announced on Thursday.
Tharoor, who is also an author, has been serving the UN since 1978. He is currently undersecretary-general for communications and public information.
Tharoor met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he was in India in April. The decision to back his candidature was taken then but kept under wraps.
Indian missions across the world were told to work with their host governments to support his bid.
When contacted by DNA in New York, Tharoor said he could not comment until India makes his candidature official.
Tharoor’s long stint at the UN is an advantage as he knows the system inside out. But more important will be the backing of the five members of the Security Council: the US, Britain, Russia, France, and China.
There is no indication yet that the Big Five are willing to back a candidate sponsored by India. New Delhi may be able to muster the support of the General Assembly, but if the nomination is vetoed by even one member of the Security Council, it will not go through.
With Annan and his predecessor Boutros-Boutros Ghali both hailing from Africa, it is now Asia’s turn to pitch for the top UN post. Three other candidates from the continent are in the running. South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon is a frontrunner and is said to have the backing of the US.
Washington is also not opposed to Sri Lanka’s Jayanta Dharmapala, who has earlier served as undersecretary-general at the UN. Thailand’s deputy prime minister and former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathi is backed by the ASEAN group. China is also said to favour Sathirathi.
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