Research Report

Appointing the UN Secretary-General: The Challenge for the Security Council

By a vote of ten to none, with one Introduction abstention, the Security Council decided to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden) as UN Secretary-General in 1953. (UN On 16 October 2015, Security Council Report the 11 candidates nominated by the time of Photo) published a report on “Appointing the UN Sec- writing have been made publicly available; and retary-General”. It provided background on the they have all participated in webcast interactive history of the process and procedure, and on pro- dialogue sessions with the full UN membership. 2016, No. 4 posals for change. It also described developments The Council has agreed to meet candidates at 30 June 2016 since the selection of Secretary-General Ban Ki- their request, has had informal meetings with This report is available online at securitycouncilreport.org. moon in 2006 and relevant Security Council dis- two candidates and expects to meet others in cussion up to early October. the near future. For daily insights by SCR on evolving Security Council actions please In this report, we examine the major develop- The Council has discussed the timing and subscribe to our “What’s In Blue” ments that have occurred since October 2015 procedure for straw polls—its informal proce- series at whatsinblue.org or follow @SCRtweets on Twitter. in both the General Assembly and the Security dure for testing the viability of candidatures—and Council. A formal nomination process has been has decided to hold its first straw poll on 21 July. instituted; the details and vision statements of This report traces the evolution of straw polls and

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 1 Introduction (con’t)

provides answers to some commonly-asked published material, including autobiogra- 1 Introduction questions about straw polls and formal bal- phies of former Secretaries-General and par- 2 Part I: Developments during lots informed by past practice. ticipants; and research interviews with indi- October 2015-June 2016 The report goes on to highlight some of viduals involved in the process in the past. 4 Part II: General Assembly the key issues for the Council in the appoint- We try to provide an accurate picture of the Activities ment of the Secretary-General and provides procedure and details of the past selections, analysis of current Council dynamics regard- but the highly secretive nature of this pro- 5 Part III: Security Council Activities ing the process. cess has made it difficult to verify some his- We have used UN documents; other torical information. 6 Part IV: Formal Ballots and Straw Polls 9 Part V: Issues and Options 10 Part VI: Council Dynamics Part I: Developments during October 2015- 10 Conclusion 11 UN Documents and Useful June 2016 Additional Resources

Joint Letter particularly China and Russia, that the UK General Assembly resolution 69/321 adopt- draft joint letter went beyond General Assem- ed on 11 September 2015 called for the bly resolution 69/321, the most controversial Security Council and the General Assem- issues during negotiations revolved around bly presidents to start the Secretary-General the inclusion of a timeline for different steps appointment process through a joint letter in the appointment process, how to specify describing the process. Soon after the adop- qualities expected of a UN Secretary-General, tion of this resolution, it became clear that a references to geographic balance or rotation, number of Council members were keen to references to gender, the question of Council see the text finalised before the end of the meetings with candidates and whether only year, although Russia preferred to wait until member states could nominate candidates. 2016 when the composition of the Council With regard to the timeline, China and that would make the appointment was in Russia were of the view that the 2016 appoint- place. Elements of a draft joint letter were ment process should follow closely that of first broached by the president of the General 2006. That year, the Council conducted its Assembly at the monthly meeting of the presi- first straw poll at the end of July and made dents of the Council and the General Assem- its decision on its recommendation in Octo- bly during the Spanish presidency in Octo- ber. Russia was also against including specific ber 2015. In November, the UK as Council details for the timeline of the process, such as president discussed in the monthly meeting a deadline for nominations, timeline for infor- of the two presidents a draft reflecting ele- mal dialogues of the General Assembly, and ments from the president of the General when the process for the appointment of the Assembly which it intended to propose. Fol- Secretary-General should be concluded. The lowing this meeting, further inputs from the agreed language in the final draft was that the Office of the President of the General Assem- selection process would begin “by the end of bly were incorporated into the draft text. On July”, keeping open the possibility of an earlier 16 November, the draft letter was circulated start, and that the Council plans to make its to all 15 members, and on 18 November recommendation to the General Assembly “in Council members met to discuss the draft a timely manner so that appointment by the text under “any other business”. This was General Assembly allows the newly appointed followed by three revisions of the draft text, Secretary-General sufficient time to prepare which was put under silence on 3 December. for the job.” Russia, however, broke silence as it still had a The issue of how to refer to geographic number of unresolved issues. Finally, follow- balance was also contentious. It seems that ing a meeting between Russia, the UK and Russia wanted to refer to a ‘tradition of geo- the president of the General Assembly on 9 graphic rotation” rather than to “the need December to discuss final unresolved issues, to ensure equal and fair distribution based a draft was put under silence procedure on on...geographical balance”, noting that this 12 December. was used in resolution 69/321 in reference Besides reactions from some members, to the appointment of the executive heads

2 whatsinblue.org Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 Part I: Developments during October 2015-June 2016 (con’t) of the UN, not just the Secretary-General. to the practice of regional rotation, it is next Herzegovina; nominated on 25 May 2016. The eventual compromise was to “note the in line for the position of Secretary-General; • Igor Lukšić (Montenegro), Deputy Prime regional diversity in the selection of previous the Chair of the Group of Eastern European Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Secretaries-General”. States wrote to UN member states in Novem- and former Prime Minister; nominated on Russia held strongly that only member ber 2014 formally expressing this and recall- 14 January 2016. states should be able to nominate candidates ing that Eastern Europe is the only regional • Susana Malcorra (Argentina), Minister of and wanted the joint letter to state this clearly. group that has not had a Secretary-General. Foreign Affairs and Worship, former Chef In the end, the joint letter stated that member While eight of the 11 candidates nominat- de Cabinet to the UN Secretary-General; states were encouraged to present candidates. ed by the time of writing are from Eastern nominated on 18 May 2016. A final issue was whether informal dia- Europe, candidates from New Zealand and • Vesna Pusić (Croatia), former First Depu- logues and meetings with the candidates Portugal (both Western European and Others ty Prime Minister and former Minister of might be organised by Council members, Group) and from Argentina (Group of Latin Foreign and European Affairs; nominated other than the president. The UK, which had American and Caribbean States [GRULAC]) on 5 January 2016. publicly stated that it would use the Arria-for- have entered the race. The strong advocacy • Danilo Türk (Slovenia), former President mula format for meetings with candidates in by some groups for a first woman Secretary- of Slovenia and former UN Assistant Sec- early 2016, and does not have a 2016 presi- General appears to have succeeded in encour- retary-General for Political Affairs; nomi- dency, was particularly keen to have a formu- aging the nomination of a larger number of nated on 3 February 2016. lation which left open this possibility. The final women: so far, five of the 11 candidates are The president of the General Assembly draft stated that, “The President of the Gener- women. In 15 elections held over the last 70 invited each candidate to submit a concise al Assembly and the President of the Security years for the post of UN Secretary-General, vision statement on the challenges and oppor- Council will offer candidates opportunities for only three women have been seriously con- tunities facing the next Secretary-General, informal dialogues or meetings with the mem- sidered as candidates (Vijaya Lakshmi Pan- and these were uploaded onto the website bers of their respective bodies…”. dit (India) in 1953, Gro Harlem Brundtland created by the Office of the President of the The letter was issued on 15 December (Norway) in 1991 and Vaira Vike-Freiberga General Assembly for the selection process. 2016, signed jointly by General Assembly (Latvia) in 2006). The vision statements and the website have president (Denmark) and The eleven nominees (as at 30 June) are: become key tools for greater transparency in Council president for December, Ambassa- • Irina Bokova (Bulgaria), Director-General the selection process. dor Samantha Power (US). of UNESCO and former Minister of For- eign Affairs a.i.; nominated on 9 Febru- Interaction between the President of Nomination of Candidates ary 2016. the Security Council and the President Following the adoption of General Assem- • Helen Clark (New Zealand), Administra- of the General Assembly bly resolution 69/321 and the joint letter, a tor of UNDP and former Prime Minister; The changes in the early stages of the selec- clearly defined nomination process has been nominated on 4 April 2016. tion process have led to unprecedented joint put in place for the first time, with greater • Natalia Gherman (Moldova), former First activity between the Council and the General involvement from the General Assembly. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Assembly. General Assembly president Lyk- Even before the joint letter was issued, two Foreign Affairs and European Integration; ketoft has made it a point to interact with the candidates had been nominated by their gov- nominated on 18 February 2016. president of the Council regularly at the start ernments, but they had to be re-nominated in • António Guterres (Portugal), former UN of every month and has used these meet- accordance with the letter. The first nomina- High Commissioner for Refugees and ings to have a discussion on the selection tion for the post of Secretary-General follow- former Prime Minister; nominated on 29 and appointment process. Members of the ing the joint letter was received on 18 Decem- February 2016. General Assembly have been kept informed ber 2015. At time of writing, 11 candidates • Vuk Jeremić (Serbia), former Foreign of the monthly meetings through letters had been nominated, all by their respective Minister and former President of the 67th from the president of the General Assembly. governments. As stipulated in the joint let- session of the General Assembly; nomi- Between October and December 2015, these ter, member states wrote to both the presi- nated on 12 April 2016. meetings were used by the president of the dent of the Council and the president of the • (former Yugoslav Republic General Assembly to press for the joint letter General Assembly formally nominating their of Macedonia), former Minister of For- to go out by the end of the year. The meet- candidate and providing some background eign Affairs and former President of the ings early this year provided the president and biographical information. The two presi- 62nd session of the General Assembly; of the General Assembly with the opportu- dents then jointly circulated to member states nominated on 18 December 2015. nity to share with the Council president his the details of the nominated candidates on an • Miroslav Lajčák (Slovakia), Minister of thoughts regarding the format and modali- ongoing basis. Foreign and European Affairs and for- ties of the informal dialogues and provide Eastern Europe maintains that according mer High Representative in Bosnia and information about his planned “timeline”.

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 3 Part II: General Assembly Activities

Informal Dialogues with Candidates them to elaborate on their vision for the UN. Other Activities in the General The most innovative feature of this selection In addition, for the first time the process is Assembly process so far has been the informal dialogues being closely followed on social media, which Discussion on the next draft resolution on with candidates organised by the president is being used by some of the candidates. the revitalisation of the work of the General of the General Assembly. These meetings Since at least one additional candidate is Assembly, which is expected to be adopted are in accordance with resolution 69/321, expected to be nominated in early July, the in September 2016, began on 23 May. Fol- which required that the General Assembly president of the General Assembly is expect- lowing on from the landmark resolution last conduct informal dialogues or meetings ed to organise another informal dialogue ses- year, this year’s initial draft from the co-chairs with candidates running for the position of sion in mid-July. The president of the General refers to the developments in the Secretary- Secretary-General. Assembly invited candidates to attend high- General selection process including the joint In 2006, several of the candidates partici- level debates on the Sustainable Development letter and circulation of names of candidates pated in meetings of regional groups of the Goals in April and peace and security in May, and welcomes the organisation and conven- General Assembly, or cross-regional meetings and has also invited them to the forthcoming ing of the informal dialogues. such as the Forum of Small States. However, high-level debate on human rights on 12-13 The draft resolution again stresses the 2016 is the first time that candidates have been July. He is planning to invite the candidates to need for fair and equitable distribution based questioned in public by the full UN member- a “Global Townhall” event at that time. on gender and geographical balance in the ship, with some civil society participation. The informal dialogues with the candi- appointment of executive heads of the organ- The first round of informal dialogues— dates have introduced an element of trans- isation, and in this context welcomes the pre- now generally referred to as “hearings” parency in a process that has been highly sentation of a significant number of women as although this language had been avoided in secretive in the past when even awareness candidates for the post of Secretary-General. the drafting of resolution 69/321—was held of who were being considered was limited. An issue that may require some negotiation is from 12 to 14 April, with the nine candidates Member states have warmly welcomed the how to address the gender and geographical who had been nominated up to that date. A opportunity to hear from the candidates, imbalance at the level of Under-Secretaries- second round was held on 7 June for the two and overall feedback on this innovation has and Assistant-Secretaries-General, including candidates who had entered the race after the been very positive. In his closing remarks the Senior Management Group of the UN April hearings. Each candidate was given a following the second round on 7 June, the Secretariat. There are also likely to be dif- two-hour time slot, starting with a ten-minute president of the General Assembly noted ficult negotiations over language the NAM presentation, after which they took questions that the hearings had provided an insight group would like to include to require the from representatives of member states and into what the membership is looking for Council to recommend multiple candidates regional groups, reflecting their current con- in the next Secretary-General, including a for appointment as Secretary-General to the cerns and expectations of the next Secretary- “strong, independent and courageous Secre- General Assembly. The duration and renew- General. Most Council members participated tary-General who will make full use of the ability of the term of the Secretary-General actively in the hearings. Each candidate also powers provided for in the UN Charter”. may also be contentious. answered two to three questions from civil He also highlighted that the next Secre- The Accountability, Coherence and society actors. The UN Non-Governmental tary-General is expected to have the skills Transparency group (ACT), a cross-regional Liaison Service (NGLS) solicited questions to transform the UN in order to respond group of 25 small and mid-sized countries from civil society, and more than 1500 ques- to today’s peace and security challenges; working to improve the accountability, coher- tions were submitted from over 70 countries implement the 2030 Agenda and Paris Cli- ence and transparency of the Security Coun- online from February through March 2016 mate Agreement; ensure greater respect cil, has been active on several issues related from around the world. A volunteer “Civil for human rights; and focus on the world’s to the process of selecting and appointing Society Committee” worked with NGLS and most vulnerable countries and peoples. He the next Secretary-General. In June 2015, the Office of the President to select 28 ques- pointed out that members would welcome it presented proposals for a joint letter by tions, which were presented through a video the first-ever woman Secretary-General but the presidents of the General Assembly and during the hearings. The candidates have been that they also wanted a person committed Council inviting members to initiate the pro- given the opportunity to answer a selection to gender equality. cess, formal presentation of the candidates of the top ten questions on the president of Some members, including the Non- in the General Assembly as well as Council the General Assembly’s website. The hearings Aligned Movement (NAM) group, have sug- hearings, a timeline for the selection process, were webcast, and remain accessible on-line. gested that there might be a straw poll of the gender balance and fair and equitable geo- Candidates were also given an opportunity to General Assembly, in order to assess how graphic distribution. Many of ACT’s pro- do a media stakeout following their session. member states rank the candidates who have posals were reflected in resolution 69/321. These hearings were a public platform for the participated in the hearings, perhaps at an While reiterating some of its concerns in a candidates to present their visions and ideas informal meeting convened by the president February 2016 position paper on outstand- for a better organisation to the UN member- of the General Assembly. However, the presi- ing issues, ACT highlighted the prerogative ship, as well as to a global audience. Sepa- dent of the General Assembly has indicated of the General Assembly to draft its resolu- rately, civil society groups and organisations that resolution 69/321 gives him no mandate tion for the appointment of the Secretary- have organised discussions with the candi- to do this. General, and to make this a more substan- dates, providing a further opportunity for tive resolution, including regarding the term

4 whatsinblue.org Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 Part II: General Assembly Activities (con’t) of office of the Secretary-General. ACT for the appointment resolution. At time of generally comes from a resolution making followed this up with a letter on 18 May to writing, it was unclear whether this would such a request or when support from a large the president of the General Assembly, sug- be possible, as the president of the General number of members for such an initiative has gesting that he initiate a facilitation process Assembly’s mandate to appoint facilitators been clearly manifested.

Part III: Security Council Activities

Meetings Among Council Members for the Secretary-General and multiple can- Wisnumurti (Indonesia), during his term as Council discussions on this issue have so far didates being recommended to the General president of the Council in November 1996, been either in very informal meetings, such as Assembly, were seen as less likely to get Coun- submitted a set of guidelines to facilitate the monthly breakfasts to consider the Coun- cil agreement. Also in February, the outgoing the process. The “Wisnumurti Guidelines”, cil’s programme of work, or under “any other head of the Security Council Affairs Division as they became known, were agreed on at a business”. One of the first occasions where briefed Council members on past practice in Council lunch on 12 November 1996 but were the issue was publicly aired was during the the selection of the Secretary-General. not issued as an official document. However, wrap-up session on the Council’s work at the Following the first hearings in the Gener- in December 1996, after the decision had been end of June 2015, when Malaysia included al Assembly in mid-April, Council members made to appoint , the permanent the selection of the next Secretary-General as appear to have been galvanised into consid- representative of Italy, who was president for a suggested topic in its concept note for the ering next steps for the Council. A series of the month, circulated a limited number of cop- wrap-up session. informal meetings took place among the ten ies of the guidelines. The Wisnumurti Guide- Council members had their first oppor- elected members, as well as meetings among lines set out general principles, the legal/pro- tunity for a fuller exchange of views on this smaller groups of Council members who had cedural basis and the decision-making process, issue on 22 July, during a discussion under taken a particular interest in this issue or had including the use of colour-coded straw polls. “any other business” initiated by the New upcoming presidencies. In addition, it seems They also specified that candidates needed to Zealand presidency. On 18 October, during that there may have been at least one meeting be submitted by member states, and that this Spain’s presidency, the Council held a debate among the P5. could be done either formally or informally. on working methods during which the selec- At the start of May, Council permanent rep- In February 2006, the Secretariat circulated a tion process for the next Secretary-General resentatives agreed at the monthly breakfast on fact sheet which reflected the 1996 guidelines. was raised by a number of members. General the programme of work that the political coor- It seems that the UK has expressed interest Assembly president Lykketoft was among the dinators would discuss the way forward for the in revising the Wisnumurti Guidelines to take briefers, focusing on the relationship between Council. Egypt, president of the Council for account of innovations introduced this year. the Council and the General Assembly. Lyk- May, and Spain produced a paper on informal On 27 May, Egypt, as Council president, ketoft highlighted the then recently adopted guidelines for the process in the Council, which initiated a discussion on the Council’s next resolution 69/321 and his discussions with the was discussed at the political coordinator level steps in the selection process under “any oth- president of the Council regarding the joint on 18 May. The paper focused on a number er business”. Among areas covered were how letter inviting member states to nominate of key issues, including possible meetings of to communicate to the General Assembly the candidates. During the debate, transparency the Council with candidates, when the initial start of the selection process in the Council; of the process and the importance of having round of straw polls should take place, and scheduling of straw polls; and meetings with women candidates were stressed by several communication with the wider UN member- candidates. While no decision was made on speakers. The “any other business” format ship. It seems that a smaller group of members the first two issues, members agreed to meet was used again on 19 November during the had discussed several other issues, including informally with candidates who requested a UK’s presidency to discuss the joint letter on whether a shortlist of candidates should be meeting with the Council, after several such the selection process from the two presidents. created and the modalities for meetings with requests had been received. There was some There was a lull in the Council’s focus on candidates. However, in view of clear divisions concern that Council meetings with candi- this issue following agreement on the joint let- on some of these issues, it was decided that it dates might replicate the General Assembly ter in mid-December 2015. In February 2016, might be best to focus on potential agreement hearings rather than provide further insights Malaysia brought together the elected mem- on immediate next steps. into how a candidate would perform as Sec- bers at political coordinator level, to gauge if Council members thus turned to written retary-General. By early 2016, Council mem- there were common positions on the timing of guidelines from past years. While an unwritten bers had therefore begun to move away from the start of the selection process and the use of understanding had developed over the years the possible use of the Arria-formula meeting straw polls. Most members seemed to regard with regard to the selection process, the first format suggested by the UK, towards a more July as the preferred start date and to agree that written guidelines were drafted in 1996. As confidential, informal format that could allow straw polls were a useful tool for discerning the Council approached the start of consulta- for a frank exchange of views, and complement, Council members’ openness to particular can- tions on the appointment of the next Secre- rather than duplicate the General Assembly didates. Other options, such as a single term tary-General that year, Ambassador Nugroho process. The first Council interaction was with

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 5 Part III: Security Council Activities (con’t)

Danilo Turk on 7 June, when members posed began considering Secretary-General can- preparation time for the new Secretary-Gen- questions to him during a one-hour breakfast didates.) France’s 2016 paper described the eral, while those in favour of the later timing meeting. This was followed by meetings with main elements of the procedure followed in the noted that candidates were expecting the straw Irina Bokova on 20 June and Vuk Jeremic on Council during previous selections and high- polls to start in late July and had arranged 27 June using the same format. Several oth- lighted some of the key questions the Council their campaign activities around that date. er candidates are expected to meet with the needed to address now in moving forward. The use of colour-coded ballots was also dis- Council before the straw polls. On 7 June, an informal meeting, mainly at cussed, with at least one elected member argu- In late May, Russia circulated a paper on the permanent representative level, was held ing strongly for not using them at all. There the procedure for straw polls, outlining its to discuss the French paper. Among matters appeared to be some consensus that colour- views on how they should be conducted. In covered were the starting date of straw polls coded ballots should not be used until late in early June, soon after it took on the Council and modalities for conducting them. Mem- the selection process. By mid-June, Council presidency, France circulated a more com- bers remained divided between those who members had come to an agreement on the prehensive paper on the 2016 process, which favoured starting as soon as possible now that date of the first straw poll, and the president included an annex on the practice related to the second round of hearings had taken place of the Council sent the president of the Gen- straw polls. (In July 2006, during its presidency and those proposing starting only in late July. eral Assembly a letter informing him that the of the Council, France had circulated a paper Members in favour of an earlier date argued Council would start the process of consider- on the procedure for straw polls as the Council that starting in late July could result in little ation of the candidates on 21 July.

Part IV: Formal Ballots and Straw Polls

How Candidates are Selected the selection of the first Secretary-General, regional rotation, and candidates were general- In 1946, the General Assembly adopted reso- the UK and the US favoured Lester Pearson ly formally nominated by member states on the lution 11(I), which determined the first selec- (Canada), while the USSR wanted an Eastern Council, rather than their own governments. tion process for both the Council and the European candidate. Trygve Lie was a com- General Assembly. The resolution required promise candidate suggested by the USSR, What have been the factors influencing P5 voting majorities in both the Council and the with a geographic and political background voting? General Assembly and provided that both that both the US and USSR could live with. The politics of the Cold War was a central recommendation and appointment be dis- While the process remained very much in factor in decisions on the appointment of a cussed in private meetings and that a vote, the control of the permanent members, by the Secretary-General until the 1990s. Positions if taken, should be in secret. As a result, the 1971 election to choose U Thant’s successor taken by the P5 were strongly influenced by Council’s voting process for the recommen- there was some discreet lobbying for the posi- Cold War relationships, as well as current dation of the UN Secretary-General has been tion, as candidates were beginning to be qui- political events. For example, in 1951, the shrouded in secrecy for the past 70 years. etly suggested by their governments. In these USSR vetoed Lie’s second term because he In this section, we attempt to answer some early years, the P5 held informal consultations had been an active supporter of the US-led of the key questions surrounding the straw to ascertain which candidates might be accept- intervention to aid South Korea in the Korean polls and formal balloting process. able to them before coming up with a list that War, and the US made it clear that it would would then be put to a vote in a private meet- veto any candidate proposed by Russia. Find- How have candidates been nominated in the ing of the Council. At this point, elected mem- ing a suitable candidate during this period was past? bers could possibly add candidates that they not easy. The US and its allies did not want a This year’s process of open nominations, might wish to have on the list. Very little infor- national of any state within the Soviet bloc in accompanied by vision statements and cur- mation was given out about the P5 discussions. the position, while the USSR was suspicious ricula vitae of candidates, and public informal For example, in 1971, the P5 agreed among of most nationals from the West. There were a dialogues, is a far cry from the secretive pro- themselves that they would tell the press that limited number of acceptable countries from cess of previous years. Starting with the very consultations were ongoing but reveal nothing which the Secretary-General could come. first Secretary-General, the early years are about frequency or place of meetings. Elected China (which had been represented by the characterised by the domination of the per- members tended to accept without question- Republic of China [Taiwan] until 25 Octo- manent members in proposing possible can- ing the right of the P5 to propose candidates ber 1971) tended in the 1970s and 1980s to didates. The first three Secretaries-General— and even suggested when there was a deadlock favour candidates from Third World countries. Trygve Lie (Norway), Dag Hammarskjold that the P5 meet separately to come up with Its desire to be seen as responsive to the devel- (Sweden) and U Thant (Burma)—emerged a candidate that all five could agree on. In the oping world was seen in its position on Kurt from an ad hoc process where candidates event of a deadlock, new names were suggest- Waldheim, the fourth Secretary-General. At were suggested by P5 members, with the ed until candidates were found who would be the time of his election in 1971, the developing US and USSR putting forward most of the acceptable to all the P5. countries in the UN were lobbying for a candi- candidates during informal discussions. In Until 1991, there was no strong push for date from the Third World. During this period,

6 whatsinblue.org Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 Part IV: Formal Ballots and Straw Polls (con’t) the newly independent developing nations sway a permanent member through majority Norway, voted for him, with the USSR voting had become the dominant voting bloc in the opinion, as was seen in the appointment of a against, and China abstaining. In 1957, Swe- General Assembly, while Western enthusiasm new Secretary-General in 1996. During the den was on the Council when the incumbent for the UN had diminished. Other permanent straw ballot voting, Kofi Annan received a Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, was members were not immune to the views of the coloured ballot in seven rounds, indicating recommended by the Council for a second larger membership. Some Arab members in opposition from a permanent member. How- term. A more complicated situation arose in 1971 conducted an active campaign against ever, as the positive votes for Annan moved 1971 when Carlos Ortiz de Rozas (Argentina) Max Jakobson (Finland) because of his Jewish up to 14, France, which had opposed Annan’s was among the candidates voted on in the heritage, and this may have been a factor in the candidacy, changed its vote in the face of sup- second ballot. He was the permanent repre- USSR’s use of its veto against him. port from all other members, and reportedly sentative of Argentina, which was an elected The process has not always been smooth- after Annan promised to appoint a French member at the time. While records indicate er in the post-Cold War period. Permanent national to head the Department of Peace- that all 15 members of the Council voted, it members have reacted to vetoes against a can- keeping Operations. is unclear how having a permanent repre- didate they support by vetoing the candidate Elected members also play a key role in sentative of a country on the Council as a of another permanent member, as happened eliminating candidates who are deemed less candidate was handled. Lastly, in 1991, when in 1996 when France repeatedly vetoed Kofi suitable for the position. Although a formal Bernard Chidzero (Zimbabwe) was Boutros- Annan (Ghana) after the US had vetoed the cut-off score has not been used in straw polls, Ghali’s main competitor, Zimbabwe was an candidate it supported, Boutros Boutros- poor overall support is a strong signal that elected member of the Council. Ghali (Egypt). can persuade candidates to withdraw their As it seems likely that the selection pro- names, or lead on to elimination in later straw cess will still be underway when New Zealand How significant is the use of the veto in formal polls. In addition, the number of votes from takes on the Council presidency in Septem- and informal voting on candidates? elected members could be a significant factor ber, there may be questions about whether it The use of the veto has been a key factor in in the formal ballot if there is more than one should recuse itself from any of the activities the choice of almost every Secretary-Gener- candidate and no veto. related to the selection process at this point. al. However, the opaque nature of the selec- Rule 20 of the Council’s Provisional Rules tion process makes it difficult to determine Have there been instances where a Council of Procedure provides that: the exact number of vetoes cast, and by which member has recused itself from a vote Whenever the President of the Security permanent member(s). The vote in the selec- because it had a national as a candidate for Council deems that for the proper fulfill- tion of the UN Secretary-General is one of the Secretary-General? ment of the responsibilities of the presiden- rare times when formal ballots in the Coun- The New Zealand government, on 4 April, cy he should not preside over the Council cil are cast in secret. There is a separate ballot nominated Helen Clark for the position of during the consideration of a particular paper for each candidate with his or her name Secretary-General. As New Zealand is cur- question with which the member he repre- and three options: yes, no or abstain. The ballot rently an elected member of the Council, this sents is directly connected, he shall indicate papers are marked as those of either permanent has given rise to questions about whether his decision to the Council. or non-permanent members, which allows for there is a need for New Zealand to recuse It appears that it is up to New Zealand vetoes to be noted but cast anonymously. While itself from aspects of the selection process. In to decide whether it is comfortable presid- not considered formal vetoes, negative votes particular, the fact that New Zealand will be ing over straw polls or formal ballots if these cast by permanent members during straw president of the Council in September when take place during its presidency and involve polls have at times had the same effect as the straw polls are expected to still be ongoing, its candidate. veto and have exercised a significant influence has raised questions about the role of the on the process. Past Secretaries-General have presidency when it has a candidate in the fray. How have regional groups affected the process? often been selected only after early favourites However, there is nothing in the Charter that While Article 97 of the UN Charter provides had been vetoed. At times, like-minded perma- indicates that a member of the Council can- no guidance on rotation of the post of Sec- nent members have colluded in using vetoes to not participate in the selection process involv- retary-General, there was a growing sense by exclude a candidate they wanted to reject. Over ing a national candidate it has nominated. 1971 that after two European Secretaries- the years, candidates who had the support of There have been at least five cases in the General, U Thant’s successor should come the majority of Council members have been past where a country was on the Council from another region in the developing world. eliminated through the negative vote of a per- when it had a candidate being considered for However, specific regional groups were not manent member. By giving permanent mem- Secretary-General. The best known example putting pressure on the Council to choose a bers the decisive vote, the veto has ensured that is that of Boutros-Ghali’s unsuccessful re- candidate from their region, with both Latin only candidates that are acceptable to all five election bid in 1996 when Egypt was a mem- American and African candidates being giv- are likely to be recommended for the position. ber of the Council. It is clear from the fact that en support. Nonetheless it was a European, Boutros-Ghali had 14 positive votes against Kurt Waldheim, who was appointed that year. Do elected members have a role to play, given one veto, which is known to have come from There is some evidence that Latin American the dominance of the permanent members in the US, that Egypt took part in the process. In delegations invoked a principle of rotation this process? 1950, when Trygve Lie was being considered in 1981, but there was no concerted cam- It has been possible for elected members to for a second term, nine members, including paign from GRULAC, with only five of the

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 7 Part IV: Formal Ballots and Straw Polls (con’t)

nine candidates who emerged following the Waldheim (Austria), who after serving two terms which he was the only candidate, Boutros-Ghali deadlock between Kurt Waldheim and Salim as Secretary-General had chosen to run for an was formally vetoed by the US. This led to four Ahmed Salim (Tanzania) coming from Lat- unprecedented third term, and Salim Ahmed new African candidates entering the race. In the Salim (Tanzania), who had been endorsed by first round of straw polling held on 10 December in America, before the eventual selection of the OAU. It is generally known that in 1971 China 1996, Kofi Annan (Ghana), then Under-Secretary- Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru). The 1991 elec- vetoed Waldheim twice, before abstaining dur- General for Peacekeeping, and Amara Essy (Côte tion was the first where a region— Africa— ing the third formal vote which led to Waldheim d’Ivoire) each received a high number of favour- made a strong claim that it was its turn for the being appointed Secretary-General. China also able votes. A second round, held on the same day, position. The Organisation of African Unity vetoed Waldheim in the first round of votes for where colour-coded ballots were used, revealed his reelection in 1976 but moved to abstention in that a permanent member, generally believed to at its summit in May 1991 endorsed a slate the second ballot. In 1981, China used its veto to be France, was opposing Kofi Annan, and two oth- of six candidates, and although candidates block Waldheim, supporting Salim, who was being er permanent members opposed Essy. The veto from other regions were also proposed, Afri- blocked by Western veto, leading to 16 inconclu- against Annan was sustained until on 13 Decem- can candidates dominated the straw polls as sive ballots. Finally, Ambassador Olara Otunnu ber—after seven rounds of straw polls—Annan well as the formal vote. In the 2006 selection (Uganda), who was Council president in Decem- had the support of all 14 other members, and the ber 1981, persuaded the two candidates to step veto was then dropped. process that resulted in the appointment of aside and devised a way to determine which new Straw polls were used again in 2006, but this Ban Ki-moon (Republic of Korea), the Asian candidates would not be vetoed by any of the time with the addition of an abstention or “no region made a strong bid for a candidate from P5. The permanent members were given a blue opinion” option. Ban Ki-moon (Republic of Korea) their region. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Presi- survey form with a list of nine new candidates was selected after four straw polls, with colour- dent of Latvia, who was nominated jointly by and asked to indicate which ones they would coded ballots used in the last of these. Although “discourage”. All 15 members were given a white Ban had received one “discourage” vote in the three countries—Estonia, Latvia and Lithu- form with the list of names and asked to indicate first three straw polls, in the fourth, which used ania—was the only candidate not from the which candidates they would “encourage”. Using colour-coded ballots, he received 14 “encour- Asian Group that year. this system, the Council identified Javier Pérez age” votes and one “no opinion” from an elected de Cuéllar (Peru) as generally acceptable, and he member. What are straw polls, how are they conducted went forward to be elected Secretary-General in a formal vote on 11 December. and have they changed over the years? How has the recommendation to the General This informal survey of members’ opinion The practice of using straw polls has devel- developed into a system of “straw polls” that has Assembly been made and acted upon? oped in order to assess viability among mul- been used in every subsequent election ahead of The final step in the selection process for tiple candidates before formal balloting. The a formal ballot. the Council is a recommendation on the straw ballot process means that votes can be The 1991 election used colour-coded ballot appointment of the next Secretary-General papers to differentiate between permanent and cast informally without holding an official to the General Assembly, which has been elected members in the same straw poll. In this meeting in the Council chamber and casting way, the preferences of the permanent members made through the adoption of a resolution. formal votes. One consequence of this is that as well as potential vetoes were revealed ahead This Council resolution has not always been the number of recorded meetings devoted to of a formal vote. Colour-coded ballot sheets had adopted unanimously, but as this matter is the selection process, and therefore its trans- been used in formal secret ballots in the past but deemed to be a substantive one, it cannot be this appears to have been the first time such a parency, has significantly diminished over the adopted with a permanent member voting system was introduced in the context of an infor- years. While vetoes are still being used, they mal vote. against. The resolutions recommending the are far more hidden than when a formal bal- Another development in 1991 was that for the last two Secretaries-General, Kofi Annan and lot is used, as there is no official information first time, a regional claim was made on the posi- Ban Ki-moon, were adopted by acclamation on the straw polls. tion: by Africa, with the Organisation of African after consensus had been reached following Unity endorsing six candidates. In the first straw multiple straw polls. poll held on 21 October, all 15 members were giv- History of the Straw Polling System en a list of names and asked to indicate with an The actual appointment has traditionally Until 1981, in order to get agreement on the “x” those they wished to support. A blank ballot been made by way of a General Assembly recommendation of a candidate to the General paper allowed members to add new candidates. resolution, for example resolution 61/3 of 13 Assembly, the Council would have a series of for- At the second straw poll, names newly suggested mal ballots in private meetings in line with Rule October 2006 appointing Secretary-General in the initial poll were voted on first, followed by 48 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure, which Ban Ki-moon to his first term of office. individual ballots for each of the candidates on states that the Council’s recommendation to the the combined list of names, which included sev- Since the re-appointment of Kurt Wald- General Assembly “be discussed and decided at eral non-African candidates. Boutros Boutros- heim in 1976, the Security Council has a private meeting”. Under Rule 55, the Secretary- Ghali (Egypt) and Bernard Chidzero (Zimbabwe) included the term of office in its resolution General must issue a communiqué summarising emerged as the leading candidates. In order to the outcome even for a “closed meeting”. Some recommending a candidate for appointment, determine if there would be a veto, in the fourth of the communiqués provide information on how and the General Assembly has invariably round permanent members were given a red many votes were cast, name the candidates ballot sheet and elected members a white one. reflected the same language in its resolution and indicate whether a resolution had not been Having established that neither of the leading appointing the Council’s recommended can- adopted due to a veto. This was the case with the candidates was opposed by any of the P5, the didate. However, it seems clear from General series of votes taken in March 1953 to choose Council proceeded to vote formally on each of Lie’s successor. More commonly in later practice, Assembly resolution 11(I) of 1946 that the the two candidates, with Boutros-Ghali emerging only minimal information on a vote was provided. General Assembly could choose to define the as the victor. A system of using straw polls came about Five years later, following two straw polls in term of office differently in its resolution. as a result of the deadlock in 1981 between Kurt

8 whatsinblue.org Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 Part V: Issues and Options

As the Council moves towards the start of candidates, together with the highest treated equally. The current president of straw polls, there are a number of outstand- and lowest scores among the candidates, the General Assembly, Mogens Lykke- ing issues that need to be agreed on. Among without identifying the candidates who toft has regularly called on member states the issues are: received these. Members are aware that— who intend to present candidates to do so • Timing of the start of the straw polls: particularly with the changes in technol- expeditiously and has pledged to organise The joint letter stated that the straw polls ogy since the 2006 election—results need informal dialogues for additional candi- would begin by the end of July, and in to be communicated promptly in order to dates. The General Assembly president- mid-June, the Council agreed to hold the ensure that they do not reach the public elect Ambassador (Fiji), first straw poll on 21 July. Some members before the candidates have been informed. who will take over the position in Septem- believe starting at this point may not guar- • Creating a shortlist of candidates: It seems ber, stated during the hearings for can- antee enough time between the eventual that the largest number of candidates vot- didates for the president of the General appointment of the new Secretary-Gen- ed on in the past may have been 14. This Assembly organised by the World Federa- eral and the beginning of his or her term year there are already close to that num- tion of UN Associations that late candi- of office on 1 January 2017. The Council’s ber, and it may even be exceeded, so mem- dates should go through the same proce- busy schedule in July could limit further bers are thinking about how to narrow the dures as the others. straw polls that month. There appears to field of candidates. Using the system of • Updating the UN membership: Once be a reluctance to schedule straw polls in one ballot paper per candidate, with the the Council moves into the straw polls, it August, as this is a month when several of 11 currently nominated candidates there will have to decide how to keep the wider the permanent representatives are on holi- would be 165 ballots in total. In the past, membership informed. In the past, this day. This could result in the bulk of straw when candidates were privately given their has been done by the Council president polling being undertaken only in Septem- own and the highest and lowest scores, it orally informing the president of the Gen- ber, giving rise to the possibility that a can- was hoped that by giving some indication eral Assembly that a straw poll has taken didate may not be selected until an uncer- of their chances of success, a candidate place. Ahead of the first straw poll, Coun- tain date in October or even November. with a large number of negative votes or cil members need to decide whether to use • The use of colour-coded ballots: There discouragements might quietly withdraw. the same format and how much informa- appears to be growing support for the view However, as seen in the 2006 election, tion to convey. Alternatively, the Council that colour-coded ballots should only be even with low scores, candidates may could choose a more formal approach by used late in the process, possibly as a last choose to remain until late in the process. sending a letter to the president of the resort to determine if a veto is likely. This That year, only one candidate withdrew General Assembly stating that the straw is how they were used in 1991 and 2006. before the fourth straw poll, which was polls took place and — if there is an open- There was only one occasion—in 1996— the one where ballots were differentiated. ness to providing more information— when Council members moved to colour- The other candidates withdrew only fol- which candidates will go on to the next coded ballots after the first round and on lowing the fourth ballot when it became straw poll and when it will take place. the same day. One option for the Council clear that only Ban Ki-moon did not have • Multiple candidates and single term: is to consider not using colour-coded bal- a “discourage” vote from a permanent These issues have continued to be part of lots at all in order to exclude the influence member. One option would be for Council the larger discussion on the selection pro- of a veto from a permanent member dur- members to agree on a cut-off score below cess and will be part of the negotiations ing the straw poll process. which candidates would not go forward on the resolution on the revitalisation of • Communicating the results of the straw into the next straw poll. the work of the General Assembly. They polls to candidates: One of the key issues • Handling the entry of late candidates: In may feature in discussions of the General is how to handle the results of the straw some past years, last-minute candidates Assembly resolution to appoint the per- polls in a discreet and sensitive way. were suggested, mainly by the P5, and son recommended by the Council. It is Members need to agree what informa- immediately put to a vote. There was resis- most unlikely that the Council will pro- tion candidates will be given following tance from some permanent members pose any changes to the practices of rec- a round of straw polling. In 2006, the during the negotiations on the joint letter ommending a single candidate or of two Council agreed that the president of the to set a deadline for nominations, and the five-year terms. While ACT has suggested Council would communicate to the can- possibility of last-minute nominations was a more substantive appointment resolu- didates and the permanent representa- left open. If a late entry candidate does not tion, which could include a decision on tives of nominating states the number of go through the General Assembly hear- the term, at the time of writing, this idea ballots of “encouraged’, “discouraged” ings, this may create a sense of a two-tier had not been taken up more generally by or “no opinion expressed” received by system, in which candidates have not been the wider UN membership.

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 9 Part VI: Council Dynamics

As highlighted earlier in this report, the selec- and negotiations of the joint letter around its were likely to have the presidency during the tion process has traditionally been dominated November presidency, between October and period of possible consideration of the issue by the permanent members. In the early days, December 2015. It has also held meetings such as Egypt, Malaysia, New Zealand and they had almost total control over the list of with selected members—largely those that Spain have all invested time and energy in candidates, and the elected members accepted are expected to take on the presidency in the trying to get the process going and ensuring that this was an area where they had little say. next few months—in order to brainstorm next that the elected members have some say in Permanent members are fully aware that their steps for the Council. Russia, whose perma- shaping the process. Malaysia initiated the veto power over the recommendation of the nent representative was involved in and thus first meeting of E10 members at the political candidate for Secretary-General gives them a has personal knowledge of the procedure used coordinator level to discuss this issue, while distinct advantage. As a result, some believe in the 2006 selection process through which Egypt and Spain circulated the paper which that although the permanent members have current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led to an “any other business” discussion on accepted—sometimes reluctantly—the chang- emerged, has conveyed this to members of the next steps for the Council on 27 May. es in the 2016 process in its early stages, once the Council both orally and by producing a New Zealand might perhaps have played a the Council moves into the phases of straw paper on the procedure for the straw polls. more active role on this issue if it did not polls and voting, it will be business as usual, Russia will be the president of the Council in have a national candidate being considered with the final outcome very much dependent October when the final straw polls and for- for the position. on finding a candidate who will not be subject mal vote are likely to take place. France had The elected members have also asserted to a veto from one or other member of the P5. initially remained in the background, but in themselves in terms of how the straw polls The P5 have shown divisions on timing, June—almost as soon as it took on the Coun- are to be conducted. While open to using this with China and Russia arguing strongly for cil presidency—it circulated a paper on the method to assess informally the Council’s keeping very much to the same timetable procedure for the selection, which was used receptiveness towards candidates, a number as in 2006. With the first straw polls now as the basis for discussion on the next steps of E10 members expressed reservations about confirmed for 21 July, it seems that an early for the Council. the use of coloured ballot papers in straw polls, recommendation is unlikely. The UK and The elected members have taken an with opinion divided over when they should France have expressed openness to a more active interest in the selection process, part- be used or even if they should be used at all. transparent process, but at the same time are ly because, except for June (France) and Spain has argued strongly that the colour-cod- keen to maintain secrecy once it comes to October (Russia), elected members will be ed ballots should not be used at all, but it is the straw polls and voting. China has been president of the Council in the months when unclear whether there will be enough support relatively reticent up to this point, but it has the most activity is expected on this issue. for this to persuade the permanent members shown in the past that it can take very strong Japan, which was president of the Council in to give up what is in effect their use of the veto positions on candidates. The US too has gen- October 2006 when Ban Ki-moon was rec- in the informal votes. In advance of the first erally not expressed very strong views during ommended, has been very conscious since it straw poll on 21 July, the E10 have begun dis- the discussions on next steps and procedure began its term in January 2016, that it will cussing their role during the straw polls. Up to of the straw polls but is likely to become more take on the presidency in July, the month seen this point, other than Egypt, the African mem- assertive once the straw polls begin. since the joint letter as the most likely for the bers have not been particularly assertive on There also appear to be tensions between start of the straw polls. As a result, Japan has selection issues. Ukraine, Uruguay and Vene- permanent members over who is the lead on been particularly keen to have the procedure zuela have expressed views on some issues but this issue. The UK positioned itself as the of the straw polls agreed on before the start have not been very active in the discussions on lead on this issue when it took on the drafting of its presidency. The elected members that the procedure and next steps.

Conclusion

This year’s appointment process has been the hearings will be a “game-changer” and has been a highly political one based on geo- unprecedented in terms of increased transpar- fundamentally affect the calculations upon political considerations and bilateral rela- ency and inclusiveness in the General Assem- which the Council will base its recommenda- tionships. The challenge for the Council is bly. As the Council begins its consideration of tion. The president of the General Assembly to recommend the right Secretary-General candidates, one question that is being asked is has suggested that this will be the case. The to lead the UN in the face of numerous new whether this openness will significantly influ- process has provided a clearer picture of what global challenges. The need for the Secre- ence the process in the Security Council. the wider membership is looking for in a Sec- tary-General to work with the permanent The General Assembly hearings have for retary-General, possibly making it less likely members, as well as the wider membership, the first time provided a basis on which the to accept a candidate who is perceived to fall is recognised, but should not give rise to wider membership, as well as a global audi- short of those expectations. compromise on the qualities required. If the ence, is able to assess the candidates for this As the history of the Council’s activity on Council does not meet that challenge, given position. The question remains as to whether this issue illustrates, ultimately this decision the unprecedented changes so far, General

10 whatsinblue.org Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 Conclusion (con’t)

Assembly president Lykketoft has suggest- by the General Assembly.” As it enters this in a process which will communicate a posi- ed that it “should not expect the traditional crucial phase in the selection process, the tive view of the UN and its leadership to a rubber stamping of their recommendation Council has the opportunity to play its part global audience.

UN Documents and Useful Additional Resources

Security Council Recommendations and Resolutions of Kofi Annan. Boutros-Ghali’s contributions. S/RES/1987 (17 June 2011) recommended the reap- A/RES/52/12B (19 December 1997) established the post S/PV.1026 (30 November 1962) was the communiqué pointment of Ban Ki-moon. of Deputy Secretary-General. of the meeting where the Council recommended the appointment of U Thant. S/RES/1715 (9 October 2006) recommended the A/RES/51/241 (31 July 1997) adopted decisions on appointment of Ban Ki-moon. strengthening the UN system. S/PV.612 (11 March 1953) was the communiqué on the private meeting on the recommendation for the appoint- S/RES/1358 (27 June 2001) recommended the reap- A/RES/51/200 (17 December 1996) appointed Kofi ment of the Secretary-General which contains the pointment of Kofi Annan. Annan. names of several candidates. S/RES/1091 (13 December 1996) acknowledged A/RES/49/252 (23 September 1994) established the S/PV.613 (13 March 1953) was the communiqué of the Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s contributions. Working Group on the Strengthening of the UN System. private meeting on the recommendation of the Secre- S/RES/1090 (13 December 1996) recommended the A/RES/46/21 (3 December 1991) appointed Boutros tary-General containing information on candidates and appointment of Kofi Annan. Boutros-Ghali. voting, including that there was a negative vote by a per- manent member. S/RES/720 (21 November 1991) recommended the A/RES/41/1 (10 October 1986) renewed the appointment appointment of Boutros Boutros-Ghali. of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. S/PV.614 (19 March 1953) was the communiqué of the private meeting where the Soviet Union proposed that S/RES/589 (10 October 1986) recommended the reap- A/RES/36/137 (15 December 1981) appointed Javier the Council should recommend the appointment of V.L. pointment of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. Pérez de Cuéllar. Pandit. S/RES/494 (11 December 1981) recommended the 31/60 (8 December 1976) renewed the appointment of The 617 meeting of the Security Council (31 March 1953) appointment of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. Kurt Waldheim. was the communiqué of the private meeting on the rec- S/RES/400 (7 December 1976) recommended the reap- 2903 (XXVI) (22 December 1971) appointed Kurt ommendation of the Secretary-General containing the pointment of Kurt Waldheim. Waldheim. results of the vote which led to Dag Hammarskjold being appointed Secretary-General. S/RES/306 (21 December 1971) recommended the 2161 (XXI) (2 December 1966) renewed the appointment appointment of Kurt Waldheim. of U Thant. Secretary-General’s Reports S/RES/229 (2 December 1966) recommended the reap- 2147 (XXI) (1 November 1966) briefly extended the A/51/950 (14 July 1997) was Renewing the United pointment of U Thant. appointment of U Thant. Nations: a Programme for Reform proposing the post of Deputy Secretary-General. S/RES/227 (28 October 1966) recommended tempo- 1771 (XVII) (30 November 1962) appointed U Thant. rary rollover of the appointment of U Thant. A/51/950/Add.1 (7 October 1997) explained the job 1640 (XVI) (3 November 1961) appointed U Thant as Act- description for the Deputy Secretary-General. Security Council Official Records, Seventeenth Year, ing Secretary-General. 1026th Meeting (30 November 1962) recommended the Other 1229 (XII) (14 December 1957) renewed the appointment appointment of U Thant. of Dag Hammarskjöld. 27 May 2016 joint letter from the Council and General S/RES/168 (3 November 1961) recommended the Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives 709 (VII) (7 April 1953) appointed Dag Hammarskjöld. appointment of U Thant as acting Secretary-General. to the UN in New York, forwarding a communication 492 (V) (1 November 1950) extended the appointment from the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic pre- Letter recommending renewal of appointment of Dag of Trygve Lie for three years, without a Security Council senting Miroslav Lajčák as a candidate for the position Hammarskjöld: Official Records of the Security Council, recommendation. of Secretary-General. Twelfth Year, 792nd Meeting (26 September 1957). 64 (II) (1 February 1946) appointed Trygve Lie. S/2016/492 (25 May 2016) was from the Prime Minister Letter recommending appointment of Dag Hammar- of the Slovak Republic nominating Miroslav Lajčák for skjöld: Official Records of the Security Council, Eighth 11 (I) (24 January 1946) established terms and process the position of Secretary-General. Year, 617th Meeting (31 March 1953). for appointment. 23 May 2016 joint letter from the Council and General Letter recommending appointment of Trygve Lie: Official Security Council Meeting Records Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives Records of the Security Council, First Year, First Series, S/PV.7479 (30 June 2015) was the record of the wrap- to the UN in New York, forwarding a communication no. 1 page 44 (30 January 1946). up session of the Council activities in June. from the Permanent Mission of the Argentine Republic General Assembly Resolutions presenting Susana Malcorra as a candidate for the posi- S/PV.6556 (17 June 2011) was the communiqué of the tion of Secretary-General. A/RES/69/321 (11 September 2015) on the revitalisation meeting where the Council decided to recommend of the work of the General Assembly included decisions the appointment of Ban Ki-moon to a second term as S/2016/473 (18 May 2016) was from the President of the on the selection of the Secretary-General. Secretary-General. Argentine Republic nominating Susana Malcorra for the position of Secretary-General. A/RES/65/282 (21 June 2011) renewed the appointment S/PV.5547 (9 October 2006) was the communiqué of Ban Ki-moon. of the meeting where the Council recommended the 12 April 2016 joint letter from the Council and General appointment of Ban Ki-moon as Secretary-General. Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representa- A/RES/61/3 (31 October 2006) appointed Ban Ki-moon. tives to the UN in New York, forwarding a communica- S/PV.4337 (27 June 2001) was the communiqué of the A/RES/60/260 (8 May 2006) was on management tion from the Permanent Mission of Serbia present- meeting where the Council recommended the reap- reforms. ing Vuk Jeremić as a candidate for the position of pointment of Kofi Annan. Secretary-General. A/RES/60/286 (8 September 2006) included deci- S/PV.3725 (13 December 1996) was the communi- sions on revisions to the process for appointing the S/2016/340 (12 April 2016) was from the Prime Minis- qué of the meeting where the Council recommended Secretary-General. ter of Serbia nominating Vuk Jeremić for the position of the appointment of Kofi Annan as Secretary-General Secretary-General. A/RES/55/277 (6 July 2001) renewed the appointment and adopted a resolution acknowledging Boutros

Security Council Report Research Report June 2016 securitycouncilreport.org 11 UN Documents (con’t) Security Council Report Staff 5 April 2016 joint letter from the Council and General 15 December 2015 joint letter from the Council and Gener- Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives al Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives Ian Martin to the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from and Permanent Observers to the UN in New York, to begin Executive Director the Permanent Mission of New Zealand presenting Helen soliciting candidates and to set in motion the process of Joanna Weschler Clark as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General. selecting and appointing the next Secretary-General. Deputy Executive Director & Director of Research S/2016/314 (4 April 2016) was from the Prime Minister of A/69/PV.103 (11 September 2015) was the record of the New Zealand nominating Helen Clark for the position of meeting where resolution A/RES/59/321 was adopted. Amanda Roberts Secretary-General. Coordinating Editor & A/69/1007 (3 September 2015) was the report of the Ad Senior Research Analyst 29 February 2016 joint letter from the Council and Gen- Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the work of eral Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representa- the General Assembly. Shamala Kandiah Thompson tives to the UN in New York, forwarding a communica- What’s in Blue Editor & Senior 27 November 2014 letter from the Chair of the Group of tion from the Permanent Mission of Portugal presenting Research Analyst Eastern European States (EEG) expressing the EEG’s António Guterres as a candidate for the position of interest in the next Secretary-General coming from the Astrid Forberg Ryan Secretary-General. Group. Senior Research Analyst & Development Officer S/2016/206 (29 February 2016) was from the Prime Min- A/65/71 (8 April 2010) transmitted the report of the Joint ister of Portugal nominating António Guterres for the posi- Inspection Unit entitled “Selection and conditions of ser- Paul Romita tion of Secretary-General. Deputy Editor of What’s in Blue & vice of Executive Heads in the system Senior Research Analyst 19 February 2016 joint letter from the Council and General organizations”. Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives to 6 July 2006 letter from the president of the General Victor Casanova Abos the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from the Research Analyst Assembly to member states on his meeting with the Presi- Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova present- dent of the Security Council. ing Natalia Gherman as a candidate for the position of Dahlia Morched Research Analyst & Secretary-General. 2 June 2006 letter from the president of the General Communications Coordinator Assembly to member states attaching letter from the S/2016/166 (18 February 2016) was from the Prime Min- President of the Security Council on the Secretary-Gen- Vladimir Sesar ister of the Republic of Moldova nominating Natalia Gher- eral selection process. Research Analyst man for the position of Secretary-General. S/2006/252 (20 April 2006) was from Malaysia, Chair Eran Sthoeger 11 February 2016 joint letter from the Council and General of the NAM Coordinating Bureau, to the Security Coun- Research Analyst Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives to cil, communicating NAM’s formal position that the next the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from the Benjamin Villanti Secretary-General should be from Asia. Permanent Mission of Bulgaria presenting Irina Bokova as Research Analyst a candidate for the position of Secretary-General. A/50/24 (23 July 1996) was the report of the Openended Robbin VanNewkirk High Level Working Group on the Strengthening of the S/2016/139 (9 February 2016) was from the Minister for Publications Coordinator UN System. Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria nominating Irina Bokova for the Lindiwe Knutson position of Secretary-General. PC/20 (23 December 1945) was the report of the UN Pre- Research Assistant paratory Commission. 9 February 2016 joint letter from the Council and General Audrey Waysse Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives to Useful Additional Resources Operations Manager the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from the The Procedure of the UN Security Council, Lorraine Siev- Permanent Mission of Slovenia presenting Danilo Türk as ers and Sam Daws, Fourth Edition, (Oxford:Oxford Uni- Maritza Tenerelli a candidate for the position of Secretary-General. Administrative Assistant versity Press, 2014) and its update website www.scpro- S/2016/128 (3 February 2016) was from the Deputy Prime cedure.org Stevenson Swanson Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia nomi- Copy Editor (Consultant) Secretary or General, The UN Secretary-General in World nating Danilo Türk for the position of Secretary-General. Politics, Simon Chesterman (Ed), (Cambridge University Security Council Report is a non- 15 January 2016 joint letter from the Council and General Press), 2007 profit organisation supported by the Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives to Governments of Australia, Austria, A Man of Peace in a World of War: Kofi Annan, Stanley the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from the Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Meisler, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc), 2007 Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Permanent Mission of Montenegro presenting Igor Lukšić Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General. Selecting the Next UN Secretary-General, A UNA-USA Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Report, May 2006, New York Republic of Korea, Singapore, S/2016/43 (14 January 2016) was from the Permanent Sweden, Switzerland, Timor- Representative of Montenegro nominating Igor Lukšić for Surrender is Not an Option: Defending America at the Leste and Turkey, and Carnegie the position of Secretary-General. United Nations, John Bolton, (Simon and Shuster), 2007 Corporation, Humanity United and the John D. and Catherine T. 14 January 2016 joint letter from the Council and General Unvanquished: A U.S. – U.N. Saga, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, MacArthur Foundation. Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representatives (Random House), 1999 to the UN in New York, forwarding a communication from Design Point Five, NY the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia pre- A Life in Peace and War, Brian Urquhart, (Harper & Row), senting Vesna Pusić as a candidate for the position of 1987 Security Council Report Secretary-General. In the Eye of the Storm: The Memoirs of Kurt Waldheim One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza S/2016/40 (5 January 2016) was from the Prime Minister (Weidenfeld and Nicolson), 1985 885 2nd Ave at 48th St, 21st Floor New York NY 10017 of the Republic of Croatia nominating Vesna Pusić for the Hammarskjold, Brian Urquhart (Alfred A. Knopf), 1972 position of Secretary-General. Telephone +1 212 759 6394 - Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969 – 1976, Vol Fax +1 212 759 4038 S/2015/1054 (18 December 2015) was from the Perma- ume V Web securitycouncilreport.org nent Representative of the former Yugoslav Republic of whatsinblue.org Macedonia nominating Srgjan Kerim for the position of Websites Secretary-General. 1 for 7 Billion - http://www.1for7billion.org/ 30 December 2015 joint letter from the Council and Gen- The Elders - http://theelders.org/ eral Assembly presidents to all Permanent Representa- tives to the UN in New York, forwarding a communica- Campaign to Elect a Woman Secretary-General - http:// tion from the Permanent Mission of the former Yugoslav www.womansg.org/ Republic of Macedonia presenting Srgjan Kerim as a can- Group of Friends in Favor of a Woman for didate for the position of Secretary-General. Secretary-General

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