SAARC wants next UN Secretary General to be Asian

South Asian heads of states and Governments on Sunday unanimously demanded that an Asian should be appointed as the next Secretary General of the United Nations and underlined the need for "meaningful reforms" of the world body.

"The heads of state or government addressed the question of electing the Secretary General of the UN in the year 2006, being aware of the unanimous view that the well established principle of geographical rotation should be observed and that an Asian should be appointed as the next Secretary General," said the Dhaka Declaration unanimously adopted at the conclusion of the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka.

In this regard, it noted that Sri Lanka has offered a candidate for the top post.

The leaders noted the outcome of the UN World Summit 2005 and underlined the need for "meaningful reforms" of the UN system in consonance with its role as the central organ for the cooperative management of the global problems. This, they said, was also necessary for promotion of peace, security, development, justice and human rights.

The summit welcomed the request by Afghanistan for membership and invited it as a member, subject to completion of formalities.

They also welcomed and agreed in principle with the desire of China and Japan to be associated as observers.

SAARC Summit 2005