1950 United Nations Secretary-General selection

Last updated
1950 United Nations Secretary-General selection
Flag of the United Nations.svg
←  1946 12 October 1950 – 1 November 1950 1953  →
  Trygve Lie 1938.jpg Charles Malik (cropped).jpg Carlos Romulo.jpg
Candidate Trygve Lie Charles Malik Carlos P. Romulo
CountryFlag of Norway.svg  Norway Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
Vote
9 / 11
4 / 11
4 / 11
Vetoes Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg
(veto ignored)		NoneNone
Round1st2nd2nd
UN Secretary-General before election

Trygve Lie

Elected UN Secretary-General

Trygve Lie

The United Nations Secretary-General selection of 1950 took place as the Cold War turned hot in the Korean War. The Soviet Union vetoed Trygvie Lie's second term and offered to vote for any other candidate. However, the United States insisted that Lie had to continue in office as Secretary-General, pressuring its allies to abstain on all other candidates. When a Latin American candidate appeared to have enough votes to win, the United States threatened to use its veto for the first time. After a second round of voting with no candidates receiving the required majority, the Security Council informed the General Assembly that it had been unable to agree on a recommendation. The General Assembly then extended Lie's term for three years.

Contents

The 1950 selection is the only time that the General Assembly voted on the office of Secretary-General despite a veto in the Security Council. The Soviet Union considered the vote to be illegal and treated the office of Secretary-General as vacant upon the expiration of Lie's original term. The veto has been respected in all future selections. In the 1996 selection, the United States found itself on the losing side of a 14-1-0 vote recommending Boutros Boutros-Ghali for a second term. Although supporters of Boutros-Ghali pointed to the precedent set by the United States in 1950, other members of the Security Council were unwilling to refer the matter to the General Assembly over a U.S. veto. Boutros-Ghali was forced to suspend his candidacy, becoming the only Secretary-General ever to be denied a second term.

Background

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Therefore, candidates can be vetoed by permanent members of the Security Council. At the first Secretary-General selection in 1946, the Soviet Union was opposed to Lester Pearson of Canada. The Security Council compromised by selecting Trygvie Lie of Norway as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

As the end of his 5-year term approached, Lie's actions drew opposition from both sides of the Cold War. After the Chinese Civil War ended in a Communist victory in 1949, Lie supported the admission of Communist China to the United Nations. [1] The Nationalist Chinese ambassador gave a press conference on 31 May 1950 in which he denounced Lie and threatened to veto him. However, he was willing to extend Lie's term for one year. [1] Meanwhile, the Soviet Union boycotted the United Nations on the grounds that the Chinese seat belonged to Communist China. France indicated that it would vote for Lie if the Soviet Union returned, but it would prefer a different candidate if the Soviet Union had left the United Nations permanently. [2]

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950. Since the Soviet Union was boycotting the Security Council, it was unable to veto Resolution 83, which called on U.N. member states to send military assistance to South Korea. Lie's strong support of U.N. intervention in Korea made him unacceptable to the Communist countries. [1] [3] The Soviet Union returned to the Security Council in August 1950 when it was their turn to take up the rotating Presidency. Facing the prospect of a Soviet veto, supporters of Lie developed a new legal theory in which the General Assembly did not need a recommendation from the Security Council, since the recommendation from 1946 was still in effect. They also maintained that the General Assembly could extend Lie's term in office without a recommendation from the Security Council. [1]

Support for Lie was lukewarm among the other three permanent members. Lie was "not entirely satisfactory" to the United States, but "he had been generally sympathetic to our views." [4] The United States took the position that the General Assembly could amend its 1946 resolution to extend Lie's term for another five years. [5] The United Kingdom wanted to extend Lie's term for no more than two years, which would allow a "more acceptable" Secretary-General to be appointed if the Soviet Union withdrew from the United Nations. [6] France favored a one-year extension, [2] but it supported the British position of a two-year maximum. [6]

On 12 September 1950, the British ambassador approached the Soviet ambassador about the Secretary-Generalship. [7] The United Kingdom was prepared to vote for Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar or Girija Shankar Bajpai of India if they were acceptable to the Soviet Union. [6] However, Soviet Ambassador Malik was noncommittal, [7] and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyshinsky would not meet with the British ambassador. [8]

Lie hoped to receive another five-year term, but he was willing to accept a two-year extension if he were allowed to save face by first declaring that he would "refuse to serve for longer than two years." [9] Toward the end of September 1950, he grew frustrated with the inaction and threatened to send letters to the Security Council and the General Assembly declaring that he would not be a candidate for re-election. Lie finally agreed not to send those letters, and the United States pressed the United Kingdom and France for a three-year term extension. [10] Lie subsequently declared publicly that he would not serve for more than three years. [11]

First round

Candidates

Candidates for Secretary-General
ImageCandidatePositionRegional group
Zygmunt Modzelewski.jpg Flag of Poland.svg Zygmunt Modzelewski Foreign Minister of PolandEastern Europe and Asia
Trygve Lie 1938.jpg Flag of Norway.svg Trygve Lie UN Secretary-General (incumbent)Western Europe

Vote

On 12 October 1950, the Security Council met for a formal vote. Polish Foreign Minister Zygmunt Modzelewski was first rejected by a vote of 1-4-6, with the Soviet Union voting in favor and Nationalist China voting against. Trygve Lie's reappointment was then rejected by a vote of 9-1-1, with the Soviet Union vetoing and Nationalist China abstaining. [12] [3]

The General Assembly was called back into session for 19 October 1950. [13] Attempting to avoid the impending vote, Soviet ambassador Yakov Malik called upon U.S. ambassador Warren Austin on 17 October 1950. Austin chided the Soviet Union for "thwarting the will of the majority" and pointed out that Malik had turned down a previous attempt by the United States to consult on the selection. Malik argued that the Security Council had only voted on two candidates so far, and "the cause of peace" would be best served by agreeing on another candidate. However, Austin said that the Soviet Union should serve "the cause of peace" by agreeing to Lie's re-selection. Malik replied that he had received "a firm niet." [14]

Second round

Indian compromise proposal

On 18 October 1950, the Security Council met at the request of the Soviet Union. [15] Soviet ambassador Yakov Malik reiterated that the Security Council was not yet deadlocked and should still explore other candidates, "particularly from Latin America and Asia." Indian ambassador Benegal Rau proposed that each member of the Security Council should secretly nominate two candidates. The list of 22 names would then be submitted to the permanent members, who could strike out any names that they found unacceptable. The Security Council would vote on anyone who remained on the list. The British and French ambassadors commended the "ingenious" scheme, and the Nationalist Chinese ambassador found it "satisfactory and fair." Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, and the Soviet Union also favored the Indian plan. [16] [17]

The United States opposed the proposal. Austin pointed out that Lie had already received 9 votes, but his name would surely be struck off the list by the Soviet Union. He asked rhetorically, "Is the spoken word without value? Is there no integrity?" Norwegian ambassador Arne Sunde gave an impassioned speech in defense of his fellow countryman, claiming that the elimination of Lie would be "tantamount to a Soviet victory in the Korean War." [16]

Diplomatic maneuverings

The Indian proposal set off a flurry of diplomatic activity as the superpowers appealed for support. The Soviet Union approached several delegations and offered to vote for their candidates. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson pressed other members of the Security Council to hold firm on Lie, saying that allowing him to be vetoed "would damage the prestige of the Security Council by stultifying the clearly expressed majority." [18]

The British government had already instructed its delegation to abstain on the Indian proposal, but it acquiesced to American wishes by authorizing Jebb to vote against. [19] Although the United States remained worried about the British vote if a Commonwealth citizen were nominated, Jebb had already told the Norwegian ambassador that the UK was "not interested [in] seeing [an] Indian as Secretary General." [20] However, France declined to issue instructions to its U.N. ambassador, allowing him to vote at his own discretion. [21]

Cuba told the United States that it would continue to support Lie, although other Latin American governments favored the Indian proposal as "a means of conciliation". The Cuban ambassador suggested that the United States adopt the Indian proposal but exempt Lie's name from being struck off the ballot. Austin denounced the "Soviet maneuver" as a "trick and a trap", saying that the Korean War was "approaching victory" and the U.S. Congress would be hesitant to continue funding the effort with an untested Secretary-General at the helm. He claimed that "this was in no way a threat but simply an analysis of a situation". [22]

The Security Council discussed the question on 20 October 1950 and 21 October 1950. The United States, United Kingdom, Cuba, Norway, and Yugoslavia were opposed to the Indian proposal, which left it one vote short of a majority. [23] The Soviet Union then proposed further consultations of the permanent members, which the Security Council agreed to by a bare majority of 7-0-4. [24] [25]

Candidates

Candidates for Secretary-General
ImageCandidatePositionRegional group
Sir B. N. Rao.jpg Flag of India.svg Benegal Rau Representative of India on the Security CouncilEastern Europe and Asia
Dr Charles Malik Emergency Session (1958 UN photo).jpg Flag of Lebanon.svg Charles Malik Ambassador of Lebanon to the U.N.Eastern Europe and Asia
Luis Padilla Nervo in Paris (1951 UN photo) (cropped).jpg Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg Luis Padilla Nervo Ambassador of Mexico to the U.N.Latin America
Carlos P. Romulo (1949 UN photo).jpg Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Carlos P. Romulo Former President of U.N. General AssemblyEastern Europe and Asia

Instructions

The permanent members met for consultations on 23 October 1950. [26] The Soviet Union nominated Luis Padilla Nervo of Mexico, Charles Malik of Lebanon, and Benegal Rau of India. Nationalist China nominated Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines. The United States said that it would only support Lie. The United Kingdom preferred Lie but would not veto any of the other candidates. The Soviet Union was willing to vote for any candidate except Lie. China was willing to vote for Padilla Nervo, Malik, or Romulo. France was willing to vote for any candidate who could get 7 votes at the Security Council. [25]

The United States was worried about the French position and pressed the French government to change its instructions. The United States also asked the other candidates to withdraw, with particular attention paid to Padilla Nervo. [27] Since Cuba and Ecuador could be counted on to vote for a Latin American candidate, Nervo would have at least six votes in the Security Council, and a French vote would give him the required 7-vote majority. [28] Secretary of State Dean Acheson was adamant that "no Latin American candidate would be accepted by the United States," saying that the Latin American countries "would very seriously embarrass themselves by running up against a United States veto." President Harry S. Truman agreed with Acheson and authorized a veto. [27] Acheson instructed the U.S. delegation that the Soviet Union could not be permitted to allow a Soviet victory at the U.N. to "prejudice our victory in Korea." [29]

The veto threat was controversial, as the United States had previously stated that it would not use the veto except when the security of the United States was threatened. [30] [28] However, the Latin American countries fell into line behind the United States. [31] The U.S. position grew stronger when France instructed its U.N. ambassador to abstain on every candidate except Lie, [32] causing Padilla Nervo to withdraw from the race. [28] [33] However, Charles Malik pointed out that the Soviet Union was offering to vote even for anti-Communist candidates, and the "opportunity to exploit such rare phenomenon should not be passed over lightly." [34]

Vote

The Security Council met in secret session on 25 October 1950. Padilla Nervo's withdrawal was announced by France, and Benegal Rau withdrew his own name from consideration. [30] U.S. ambassador Austin "wondered what answer he could be expected to give to the parents of those who had died in Korea." Soviet ambassador Malik called Lie a "pawn" of "MacArthur and U.S. monopolists" and attacked the United States for abandoning its "widely advertised position" of not using the veto. Malik then demanded that the Security Council vote on the remaining candidates. [35]

Charles Malik and Carlos P. Romulo were both rejected by votes of 4-0-7. [30] Egypt, India, China, and the Soviet Union voted in favor, while the other countries abstained. The Security Council then voted 7-1-3 to send a letter to the General Assembly reporting that it had been unable to reach agreement. [35] Although the Soviet Union voted against the letter, procedural matters are not subject to the veto.

Extension of Lie's term

At the Security Council on 30 October 1950, the Soviet Union proposed a resolution asking the General Assembly to postpone the appointment of a secretary-general. The Soviet proposal was rejected by a vote of 1-7-3. The Soviet Union then announced publicly that it would no longer recognize Trygve Lie as Secretary-General after his term ended on 2 February 1951, since any vote by the General Assembly to extend his term was "an artificial maneuver designed to circumvent the [U.N.] Charter." [36]

The General Assembly took up the appointment of a secretary-general on 31 October 1950 and 1 November 1950. U.S. Ambassador Austin praised Lie's "stand against aggression in Korea," while Soviet Foreign Minister Vishinsky said that the vote made a "mockery" of the United Nations. [37] The General Assembly voted 37-9-11 to reject a Soviet proposal to postpone the question. It also voted 35-15-7 to reject an Iraqi proposal to study the process of appointing the Secretary-General and develop a solution. [11]

Finally, the General Assembly voted 46-5-8 to extend Lie's term by three years to 2 February 1954. Only the five Soviet bloc countries voted against the resolution. Six Arab countries abstained because of Lie's stance on Palestine, comparing Israeli actions against the Palestinians to North Korea's invasion of South Korea. Nationalist China also abstained, and Australia abstained because it felt the vote was an illegal circumvention of the U.N. Charter. [11] [38]

Aftermath

At the critical Security Council meeting on 25 October 1950, U.S. Ambassador Austin was confidently predicting a United Nations victory in the Korean War. Austin talked of the need for Lie to remain in office to oversee the postwar reconstruction of Korea. However, events were already in motion that would turn the war into a stalemate. Earlier that day, Chinese Communist troops ambushed United Nations forces at the Battle of Onjong and the Battle of Unsan. By the end of December 1950, United Nations forces had retreated south of the 38th Parallel. The war settled into a stalemate by the middle of 1951. Lie announced his resignation on 10 November 1952, declaring, "I am quite sure that this is the time to leave without damage to the UN." This set the stage for the 1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection.

The 1950 selection marks the only time that the General Assembly voted on a secretary-general without the recommendation of the Security Council. In 1966, Francis T. P. Plimpton, former Deputy U.S. Representative to the U.N., said that the 1950 vote by the General Assembly had "little taint of legality." [39] The veto would be respected in all future selections. In the 1996 selection, the re-selection of Boutros Boutros-Ghali was vetoed by the United States in a 14-1-0 vote. Supporters of Boutros-Ghali hoped to use the precedent set by the United States in 1950 to take the matter to the General Assembly. France attempted to extend Boutros-Ghali's term by two years in office, but Boutros-Ghali suspended his candidacy after a two-week deadlock in the Security Council. There has been no further challenge to the use of the veto to block the selection of a secretary-general.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hamilton, Thomas J. (9 October 1950). "U.N. Council Meets Today on Lie Term". The New York Times. p. 1.
  2. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 43: Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy United States Representative on the Security Council (Ross), June 13, 1950.
  3. 1 2 Barrett, George (13 October 1950). "Position of U.N. Chief Aide is Thrust Into Uncertainty". The New York Times. p. 1.
  4. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 69: Minutes of the Thirteenth Meeting of the United States Delegation New York, October 4, 1950, 9:15 a. m.
  5. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 52: Department of State Position Paper, for the Instruction of the United States Delegation to the Fifth Regular Session of the General Assembly, August 31, 1950.
  6. 1 2 3 FRUS 1950 II , Document 57: The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State, September 6, 1950, 9 p.m.
  7. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 60: The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State, September 12, 1950, 4:44 p.m.
  8. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 64: The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State, September 26, 1950, 1:29 p.m.
  9. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 58: The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State, September 11, 1950, 3:51 p.m.
  10. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 68: Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson), October 3, 1950.
  11. 1 2 3 Hamilton, Thomas J. (2 November 1950). "Lie Term Extended as U.N. Secretary for 3 Years, 46 to 5". The New York Times. p. 1.
  12. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 71: Extract From Daily Secret Summary No. 75 From the United States Mission at the United Nations, New York, October 13, 1950, 4:00 a. m.
  13. ↑ Hamilton, Thomas J. (17 October 1950). "Extension of Term for Lie is Sought". The New York Times. p. 19.
  14. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 72: Memorandum of Conversation, October 17, 1950.
  15. ↑ Hamilton, Thomas J. (18 October 1950). "Malik Bids Council Meet Again on Lie". The New York Times. p. 13.
  16. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 73: Extract From Daily Secret Summary No. 80 From the United States Mission at the United Nations, New York, October 19, 1950, 1:57 a. m.
  17. ↑ Barrett, George (19 October 1950). "India Offers Plan for Lie Successor". The New York Times. p. 8.
  18. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 74: The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom, October 18, 1950, 11 p.m.
  19. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 78: The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State, October 20, 1950, noon.
  20. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 82: The Chargé in Norway (Snow) to the Secretary of State, October 20, 1950, 4 p.m.
  21. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 83: The Chargé in France (Bonsal) to the Secretary of State, October 20, 1950, 7 p.m.
  22. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 75: Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Edward P. Maffitt of the United States Delegation Advisory Staff, October 19, 1950.
  23. ↑ "India's Bid to Fill Lie Post Opposed". The New York Times. 21 October 1950. p. 4.
  24. ↑ "Big 5 Talk Asked on Top U.N. Aide". The New York Times. 22 October 1950. p. 19.
  25. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 84: Editorial Note
  26. ↑ "5 Names offered for Top U.N. Aide". The New York Times. 24 October 1950. p. 12.
  27. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 86: Minutes of Meeting on President Truman's Train, New York, October 24, 1950
  28. 1 2 3 Hamilton, Thomas J. (27 October 1950). "Veto Threat Held Excessive in U.S. Stand Supporting Lie". The New York Times. p. 5.
  29. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 87: Memorandum of Instructions by the Secretary of the State to the United States Delegation, October 24, 1950.
  30. 1 2 3 Barrett, George (26 October 1950). "U.S. Threatens Its First Veto In Backing Renaming of Lie". The New York Times. p. 1.
  31. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 93: Minutes of the Twenty-eighth Meeting of the United States Delegation, New York, October 27, 1950, 9:15 a.m.
  32. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 88: Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy United States Representative on the Security Council (Ross), October 24, 1950.
  33. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 89: Memorandum of Conversations, by Mr. John C. Dreier of the United States Delegation Advisory Staff, October 25, 1950.
  34. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 90: Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy United States Representative on the Security Council (Ross), October 25, 1950.
  35. 1 2 FRUS 1950 II , Document 91: Extract From Daily Secret Summary No. 86 From the United States Mission at the United Nations, New York, October 26, 1950, 3:41 a. m.
  36. ↑ "Soviet to Shun Lie if He Stays in Post". The New York Times. 31 October 1950. p. 1.
  37. ↑ Hamilton, Thomas J. (1 November 1950). "Austin Leads Fight in Support of Lie". The New York Times. p. 1.
  38. ↑ FRUS 1950 II , Document 95: United States Delegation Working Paper Incorporating Tentative Draft Resolution on Appointment of the Secretary-General, October 28, 1950.
  39. ↑ Hampton, Francis T. P. (27 November 1966). "What Is a Secretary-General?". The New York Times. p. SM30.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council</span> One of the six principal organs of the UN

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter. Its powers as outlined in the United Nations Charter include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only UN body with authority to issue resolutions that are binding on member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary-General of the United Nations</span> Chief administrative officer and head of the UN

The secretary-general of the United Nations is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbarton Oaks Conference</span> 1944 international conference which laid the foundations for the United Nations

The Dumbarton Oaks Conference, or, more formally, the Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization, was an international conference at which proposals for the establishment of a "general international organization", which was to become the United Nations, were formulated and negotiated. The conference was led by the Four Policemen – the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China. It was held at the Dumbarton Oaks estate in Washington, D.C., from August 21, 1944, to October 7, 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boutros Boutros-Ghali</span> Secretary-General of the UN from 1992 to 1996

Boutros Boutros-Ghali was an Egyptian politician and diplomat who served as the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1992 to 1996. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Boutros-Ghali was the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt between 1977 and 1979. He oversaw the United Nations over a period coinciding with several world crises, including the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trygve Lie</span> UN Secretary-General from 1946 to 1952

Trygve Halvdan Lie was a Norwegian politician, labour leader, government official and author. He served as Norwegian foreign minister during the critical years of the Norwegian government in exile in London from 1940 to 1945. From 1946 to 1952 he was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soviet Union and the United Nations</span>

The Soviet Union was a charter member of the United Nations and one of five permanent members of the Security Council. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, its UN seat was transferred to the Russian Federation, one of the many successor states of the USSR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council veto power</span> Legal power of the five permanent UNSC member states to veto resolutions

The United Nations Security Council veto power is the power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to veto any "substantive" resolution. They also happen to be the nuclear-weapon states (NWS) under the terms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. However, a permanent member's abstention or absence does not prevent a draft resolution from being adopted. This veto power does not apply to "procedural" votes, as determined by the permanent members themselves. A permanent member can also block the selection of a Secretary-General, although a formal veto is unnecessary since the vote is taken behind closed doors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salim Ahmed Salim</span> Tanzanian politician and diplomat

Salim Ahmed Salim is a Tanzanian politician and diplomat who has worked in the international diplomatic arena since the early 1960s. He served as prime minister for one year 1984–1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 82</span> 1950 resolution on the Korean War

Resolution 82 was adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 25 June 1950. It condemned the "armed attack on the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea", while calling for "the immediate cessation of hostilities" and for "the authorities in North Korea to withdraw forthwith their armed forces to the 38th parallel". The measure was adopted with 9 voting for, none opposed, and one abstention by the Soviet Union, who was boycotting the UN at the time for its recognition of the Republic of China as China's representative to the organization.

Chapter V of the United Nations Charter contains provisions establishing the United Nations Security Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felipe Herrera</span>

Felipe Herrera Lane was a Chilean economist, lawyer, academic and political socialist. He served as the first president of the Inter-American Development Bank, where he gained a reputation as a "developmentalist."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1090</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 1996

United Nations Security Council resolution 1090, adopted without a vote at a closed meeting on 13 December 1996, having considered the question of the recommendation for the appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Council recommended to the General Assembly that Mr. Kofi Annan be appointed for a term of office from 1 January 1997, to 31 December 2001.

United Nations Secretary-General selection is the process of selecting the next secretary-general of the United Nations. To be selected as secretary-general, a candidate must receive the votes of at least nine members of the United Nations Security Council, with no vetoes from permanent members. The secretary-general is then appointed by a majority vote of the United Nations General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span> UN Secretary-General selection, 1996

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1996 at the end of Boutros Boutros-Ghali's first term. Boutros-Ghali ran unopposed for a second term and received the support of 14 of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council. However, the United States vetoed his re-selection and eventually forced him to withdraw his candidacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span>

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1991 to replace Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, whose second term would end on 31 December 1991. Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt was selected for a term ending on 31 December 1996, becoming the first Secretary-General from Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span>

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1981. Kurt Waldheim ran for an unprecedented third full term as Secretary-General, losing to Salim Ahmed Salim by one vote. However, the selection deadlocked through 16 rounds of voting as China vetoed Waldheim and the United States voted against Salim. The Security Council finally settled on a dark horse candidate who stayed home and did not campaign. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar was selected for a term beginning on 1 January 1982, becoming the first Secretary-General from Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span>

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1971 to succeed U Thant, who was stepping down after two full terms. Three candidates received enough votes in the Security Council to be selected Secretary-General: Carlos Ortiz de Rozas of Argentina, Kurt Waldheim of Austria, and Max Jakobson of Finland. However, all of the frontrunners were vetoed in the first two rounds of voting. In the third round, Waldheim accidentally escaped a triple-veto when three permanent members failed to coordinate their votes and all abstained. As a result, Kurt Waldheim was selected Secretary-General of the United Nations for a term starting 1 January 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1961 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span>

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1961 to replace Dag Hammarskjöld after he was killed in a plane crash. After initial Soviet attempts to replace the secretary-general with a troika, it was agreed that an acting secretary-general would be appointed for the remainder of Hammarskjöld's term. Within two weeks, U Thant of Burma emerged as the only candidate who was acceptable to both the Soviet Union and the United States. However, the superpowers spent another four weeks arguing over the number of assistant secretaries-general, before finally resolving their dispute by allowing Thant to decide for himself. Thant was then voted in unanimously for a term ending on 10 April 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span>

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1953 after Trygve Lie announced his intention of resigning. Lie had been at odds with the Soviet Union since the outbreak of the Korean War, and the negotiations for an armistice offered the opportunity for a new Secretary-General to turn the page. The British delegation dragged out the selection process as they campaigned for Lester Pearson of Canada, but he was vetoed by the Soviet Union. Other candidates fell short of a majority in the Security Council. After two weeks of deadlock, France proposed Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden as a dark horse candidate. Hammarskjöld was acceptable to both superpowers and was selected Secretary-General for a 5-year term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1946 United Nations Secretary-General selection</span> 1946 UNSecretary-General selection

The United Nations Secretary-General selection of 1946 took place at the opening session of the United Nations in London. The General Assembly first voted on the membership of the Security Council, which then selected the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. The United States and the United Kingdom supported Lester B. Pearson of Canada for Secretary-General, but the Soviet Union opposed Pearson since the permanent headquarters of the United Nations would be in North America. The Security Council compromised on Trygve Lie of Norway, who had lost the election for President of the General Assembly to Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.