NEW YORK, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - The UN Security Council nominated Monday South Korea's foreign minister as the new UN Secretary General.
Ban Ki-moon, 62, has served as South Korea's minister of foreign affairs and trade since January 2004.
He declared his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary General in February 2006.
After four straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council, Ban Ki-moon remained the only candidate with support from all five permanent members, each of whom has the power to veto candidates.
Russia's envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said Monday, "We welcome this decision, and from the start considered Ban Ki-moon as a strong candidate...We know the South Korean foreign minister well."
"Ban Ki-moon possesses all the qualities to carry out this difficult mission. We will support him," the Russian diplomat said.
The candidate must now receive two thirds of votes at a session of the UN General Assembly. Historically, candidates nominated by the UN Security Council have almost always received the majority of the General Assembly's votes.
