Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Judd (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 21 June 2006.

United Nations: Secretary-General

Question: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging reply and its definition of what the British Government will be looking for in the next Secretary-General, but does he not agree that the idea in the Canadian proposals of candidates putting forward a statement about their vision and purpose would be an excellent way of providing a Secretary-General, when appointed, with a mandate for the office that he is undertaking? Does he not also agree that there is great merit in the Canadian proposition that the permanent members of the Security Council should recognise that, on the recommendation to the General Assembly, they should accept the majority verdict of the Security Council and not exercise their veto?

Answer: My Lords, on the first point, I think it would be helpful if people were to make clear in seeking to become Secretary-General their understanding of the needs of the United Nations, but I am afraid that I can not agree with my noble friend on the second point. The reality is that the P5 and other members of the Security Council have a vital interest in ensuring that there is the greatest possible unanimity behind whoever is the Secretary-General. Were that to be in any sense disrupted, or were it to become a highly combative form of selection, the organisation would be split at precisely the time when you would want it to be together.

Secondary information