Cho Hyun Meets Four Candidates for UN Secretary-General to Discuss Strengthening Multilateralism

[Financial News] Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met individually with four candidates for UN secretary-general from the 19th through the 21st (local time), exchanging views on ways to strengthen UN-centered multilateralism and other issues. Cho is visiting New York to attend the high-level segment of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
On the 19th, Cho first held talks with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's ambassador to the UN, and Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He then met María Fernanda Espinosa, former president of the UN General Assembly, on the 20th, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the 21st.
Cho said strengthening UN-centered multilateralism is necessary to respond to international challenges, including protracted armed conflicts. To that end, the UN must become a more effective and accountable organization, and the role of the next UN secretary-general is more important than ever, he said. He also called on the candidates to show interest in and support for expanding the presence of Korean nationals in the UN.
The candidates for UN secretary-general said reform requires the leadership of a secretary-general who understands the UN system, as well as broad support from member states. In particular, they assessed that Korea, as a middle power that has consistently contributed to the UN, can play an important role in building consensus among member states and broadening support for reform.
They also took note of Korea's contribution to improving the transparency of the selection process by hosting a session titled "A Dialogue with Candidates for UN Secretary-General" at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity last June.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres's term ends at the end of this year, the selection process for his successor is underway. Seven people have currently put their names forward as candidates, and the next secretary-general will be appointed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) following a recommendation from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter