VZCZCXRO0389
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0394 0581828
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271828Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2324
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0046

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT) AND IO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UN JM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT U.N. 
SECRETARY GENERAL 
 
SIPDIS 
 
REF: STATE 22833 
 
 
¶1. (U) This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please 
handle accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On February 24, Pol/EconCouns took advantage of a 
meeting on various topics with Ambassador Vilma McNish, 
Director of the Multilateral Organizations Department, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), to 
convey reftel points, which he left as a non-paper. 
 
¶3. (SBU) McNish seemed to welcome engagement on the issue of 
the selection of the next UN Secretary General (UNSYG), and 
strongly agreed that the next UNSYG should have strong 
ethical and managerial qualities.  She said that she was 
aware only of three declared candidates, including a South 
Korean and a Thai, but that "it is early days yet", other 
candidates will likely emerge, and the GOJ has made no 
decision on the matter.  McNish expected the selection 
process/candidates would be discussed enthusiastically on the 
margins of the upcoming Non-aligned Movement's biennial 
meeting of foreign ministers in Malaysia. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Whoever becomes the next UNSYG, said McNish, should 
enjoy the confidence and respect  of all states, "big, 
medium-sized, and small."  The extent to which that 
individual places "development goals at the center of the 
agenda," she continued, would go a long way towards 
determining whether or not the GOJ would support him/her. 
McNish observed that managerial skills/experience were 
important, but that the UNSYG should also have leadership 
qualities and a certain profile, implying that perhaps the 
next UNSYG should come from outside of the UN system. 
JOHNSON