RIGA - Leaders of the Baltic states have decided to officially nominate Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga as a candidate to the post of UN secretary general.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed the nomination, and said it was important that the three Baltic countries jointly support Vike-Freiberga.
"Considering the wealth of experience Vaira Vike-Freiberga has, she is a very strong candidate," Paet said.
He expressed conviction that as secretary-general, Vike-Freiberga would be able to make a big contribution to increasing the role of the UN and promoting the reform of the organization.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan of Ghana, whose second five-year term in this office will expire at the end of the year, said that most UN member states thought that his successor should come from Asia, following the unwritten rule about choosing the UN secretary general from all world regions by turn.
The next UN secretary general is to be picked by the UN Security Council in next few months. The UN Security Council permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US 's will play a decisive role.
