SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION ON HIS SUCCESSOR

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Security Council to recommend His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, to the General Assembly for appointment as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.  He has the highest respect for Mr. Ban, having had the pleasure of working with him both in his present capacity and when he was Chef de Cabinet to the President of the General Assembly.

The Secretary-General hopes that the General Assembly will be able to reach a decision on this important matter in the near future, so that the incoming Secretary-General designate will have time to prepare fully for his assumption of office on 1 January.  For his part, the Secretary-General will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition.

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For information media • not an official record