Commonwealth heads of government unanimously appointed Indian Kamalesh Sharma as the grouping's new secretary general on Saturday.
KAMPALA: Career diplomat Kamlesh Sharma was unanimously chosen as the new Commonwealth Secretary General on Saturday, becoming the first Indian to hold the coveted post of the 53-member grouping.
Currently India's High Commissioner to the UK, 66-year-old Sharma was appointed to the post by the Commonwealth Heads of Government holding their biennial summit here.
An elated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is attending the summit, said he was delighted that Commonwealth Heads of Government have selected Sharma as the next Secretary General.
"His long record of public service in the international community has been capped by this recognition of his capabilities and inclusive vision of the Commonwealth.
"I am confident that he will acquit himself well in his higher responsibilities as the first servant of the entire Commonwealth," the Prime Minister said.
Sharma, who will take up his new post on April one next year, told the press after his selection that "it will be an honour and a privilege to serve this great international institution."
"Collective problems of the world require collective solutions". This required convergence in all areas, he said adding "we have to stand on common ground in pursuing the goal of development".
Malta's Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and Commonwealth Business Council Chairman Mohan Kaul were also in the fray but the leaders decided in Sharma's favour.
He becomes the first-ever Indian and the first Asian in more than 40 years to be selected to the top slot in the 42-year-old grouping of former British colonies. A bid by Jagat Mehta in 1985 did not fructify.
Sharma will succeed Don Mckinnon of New Zealand when he steps down at the end of his second four-year term.
Educated in the prestigious St Stephen's college in Delhi and Cambridge university, Sharma was a member of the Indian Foreign Service from 1965 to 2001.
Commonwealth has to be a "mainstream organisation", Sharma said while promising to work hard for the interests of smaller states of the grouping.
The Commonwealth Secretary General is the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth secretariat, which is the main inter-governmental agency of the grouping. The Secretary General is elected for no more than two four-year terms.
Sharma's victory brings much relief to the government which faced an embarrassment over the failure of its nominee Shashi Tharoor to get the UN Secretary General's post.
Having immense experience in dealing with global issues, Sharma has served with distinction at various key positions including as India's Permanent Representative to the UN and spokesperson for developing countries in the UNCTAD during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
Sharma is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation where he has taken keen interest in the activities and guided India's close engagement with the Commonwealth since 2004.
Sharma also had the distinction of being the first Special Representative of UN Secretary General to independent East Timor. His appointment comes as India prepares to host the 2010 Commonwealth Ganes in New Delhi.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}