New UN Secretary-General must not be 'in anyone's pocket,' Russian ambassador says

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. A future UN Secretary-General must not be "in anyone's pocket"; he must be objective and impartial and possess all the essential qualities required of an international civil servant, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said in an interview with the Vesti news program.

Discussing the election of a new Secretary-General, he noted: "You might be the frontrunner in this 'colorless race' - securing 14 votes, for instance, or even 15. Although 15 effectively guarantees the position, the outcome is ultimately determined by Security Council recommendations - specifically, a majority of votes that includes all five permanent members during the so-called 'colored ballot' vote."

"It would be ideal to elect a Secretary-General who understands the role of the organization's chief administrative officer," Nebenzya observed - "someone who, in accordance with Article 100 of the UN Charter, possesses the highest level of competence, impartiality, and the other qualities expected of an international civil servant."

According to Russia's permanent representative, the individual must not be "in anyone's pocket, including Russia's".

"He must be objective; he must serve all UN member states," Nebenzya said.