Closing remarks: Informal dialogues with the candidates for SG

Closing remarks by Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General Assembly, Informal dialogues with the candidates for next Secretary-General

 1 April 2016

 

With that we have reached the end of this set of informal dialogues with the candidates.

To conclude I would like to say a few short words of thanks.

First, I wish to thank each of our 9 candidates, for their openness, their stamina and their efforts to answer each of the 800+ questions posed by you, the membership as directly as possible. Each candidate has done themselves and their countries proud and deserves our sincere appreciation.

Second, let me thank you, the membership, for your direct and focused questions, for showing these dialogues the respect they deserve, for showing the world the genuine capacity of this Assembly to contribute so positively to multilateralism and to this process, in particular.

From my own personal reflections, in the months that I have been here, this has been the best discussion about reforming the UN…..

Third, let me thank civil society, for adding the voices of young people, marginalized groups and others from the 7billion people that the next SG will represent and serve.

Finally, allow me to thank all who worked to organize these dialogues, our colleagues in DGACM, the staff of NGLS, the interpreters, my own team in the Office of the PGA and others.

Excellencies, many have questioned the ability of these dialogues to make a real difference, to contribute meaningfully to this process.

Over the past few days, the General Assembly has provided a clear response.

These dialogues have not only established a new standard of transparency and inclusivity for the selection and appointment process but they are now, in and of themselves, an integral part of that process.

The 9 candidates have shown themselves as they are and as they will be if chosen to be the next Secretary-General – their strengths and their weaknesses; their hopes and their intentions.

They have set a very high bar.

I therefore strongly encourage any candidates who have not yet presented themselves to do so as soon as possible and to engage directly in a dialogue with this Assembly.

Where future dialogues are needed, I hope to be able to organize them as early as possible over coming months.

For the most difficult job in the world, I think we now have the most difficult job interview in the world.

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