News - Dhanapala’s chances diminishing?

Warsaw - The race for UN Secretary-General’s post is hotting up with India throwing its own contender into the ring last Thursday.

India’s entry may have surprised many but not some people as I learnt during a June 4-9 visit to Poland. There we were told about the Polish candidate, former President Alexander Kwasniewski, and during a discussion about Sri Lanka seeking Indian support for its own candidate Jayantha Dhanapala, one journalist quipped, “Don’t be surprised if India throws its own hat in the ring.”

Adding to that was a remark by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski: “Asia has too many candidates. The more the merrier; they will block each other.”

Responding to the claim that it is Asia’s turn for the post, he asked: “What about Eastern Europe? We have never had a chance.Asia had it before.” He said Poland had an excellent candidate for the post. “He is former president who has served two terms. The UN is supposed to look for a candidate who can share (his or her) expertise. Our candidate can offer that.” Asia’s candidates include Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and now UN Under Secretary General Shashi Tharoor from India.