Selection of next U.N. secretary-general underway

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations kicked off the selection of its next secretary-general on Friday, asking the 193 U.N. member states to submit candidates to be the world organization’s chief diplomat and operating officer.

The process began with a letter signed virtually by General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir and Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, this month’s president of the Security Council, opening the nomination of candidates.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term expires on Dec. 31, announced last month that he is seeking a second five-year term.

Honduras’ U.N. Ambassador Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake sent a letter to all U.N. member nations saying there has never been a female secretary-general and asking them to “present women candidates.”

Just before Christmas, a group of 25 nations from all regions called the Accountability Coherence and Transparency group wrote to the General Assembly and Security Council urging that the selection process for the next secretary-general meets “at a minimum” the 2015 standards of transparency and involvement of the 193 U.N. member nations.

Guterres’ election was a disappointment to women, who had hoped to break the all-male hold on the post, and to East Europeans who have never had a secretary-general from the region. It was supposed to be next in the informal geographical rotation for U.N. chief when Guterres, a Portuguese, was elected.

The General Assembly elects the secretary-general on the recommendation of the 15-member Security Council, where the five permanent members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — have veto power, so their support is crucial.