UNITED NATIONS, March 8: The world is ready for a woman as UN secretary general, Kofi Annan said here on Wednesday as he marked International Women’s Day. The UN chief made the remarks shortly before he was scheduled to meet Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the only woman contender for Mr Annan’s position.

“We do have achievements to celebrate... There are now 11 women heads of state or government, in countries on every continent. And three countries — Chile, Spain and Sweden — now have gender parity in government,” he told the 50th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

“I think we should see a clear message in the overwhelming success of women in presidential elections over the past year: the world is ready for a woman as secretary general of the United Nations,” said Mr Annan, who will step down at the end of December after two five-year terms.

Diplomats generally believe that in line with an informal rotation system, the next secretary general should come from Asia, although the United States maintains that merit should be the only criterion for selection.

Three prominent Asian men are vying for the post: South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon; Sri Lanka’s Jayantha Dhanapala, an adviser to President Mahinda Rajapakse and a former UN undersecretary-general for disarmament; and Thai Deputy Premier Surakiart Sathirathai.

Mr Annan also stressed the need for the UN to do more to attract talented women to decision-making posts. —AFP