Clark in 'middle of pack' for UN role

Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Clark would have wanted a better result in the first poll for the United Nations top job, but isn't out of the contest, Labour's foreign affairs spokesman David Shearer says.

Clark has been widely seen as a front-runner and one of the strongest-performing campaigners to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the next UN secretary-general.

But the former prime minister has placed in the middle of the 12-strong field after a straw poll of the UN Security Council members, according to reports.

Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres topped the first informal poll, followed by Slovenia's former president Danilo Turk.

At number three, Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, who heads Unesco, is the only woman candidate in the top five. Clark came sixth.

"I think she would have been hoping for better. But I don't think there is any reason for her to desist," said Shearer, who spent 20 years working at the UN.

"Everybody was talking about a woman and an Eastern European. In fact, that hasn't panned out in terms of the first straw vote.

"Who knows what will happen with the next one. I think everyone will sort of swallow hard and soldier on, and that's what they should do."

The 15 council members decided not to reveal the results of their voting to "encourage", "discourage", or express "no opinion" about the 12 candidates.

But despite the council's efforts at secrecy, the results quickly leaked out.

Clark reportedly received eight "encourage" votes but five "discourage" votes and two "no opinion".

Not all votes are equally important. The Security Council's permanent members - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - have veto power over the candidates.

The third-placed Bokova had a number of discourage votes, Shearer noted.

"If she had those from the permanent five and Helen didn't, that is a very big distinction. And we don't know that. There are a lot of unknowns and a lot of vagaries out there. I think we've just got to accept that is how it will be until that final vote."

Speaking before the straw poll, Britain's UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said candidates that placed poorly should drop out of the race, as the process was designed to whittle down the field.

However, more candidates could enter the race as there is no deadline for nominations. Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has made a late bid and has requested that the Australian government formally nominate him.

Another informal poll is expected to take place next week followed by several more in August, and possibly September.

US Vice President Joe Biden, speaking during a visit to Auckland yesterday, said the United States was considering supporting Clark.

After bilateral talks with Prime Minister John Key, Biden said he had been amazed by the "non-partisan zeal" with which Key was promoting her.

"I was impressed. I thought she was his sister.

"But all kidding aside, we have a very high regard for your nominee and she is one who is being closely considered."

 

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