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Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006
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Tharoor quits race

Amit Baruah

U.S. `no' in straw polls behind his decision

NEW DELHI: It was a United States "no" at an informal United Nations Security Council poll on Monday that triggered Shashi Tharoor's withdrawal from the race for U.N. Secretary-General, highly placed official sources told The Hindu .

According to the sources, the U.S. voted against Mr. Tharoor, India's official candidate, not only on Monday, but also in all the three previous "straw polls." It is almost certain that South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, who has topped all straw polls, will be the next Secretary-General.

Monday's poll was different from the others because the five permanent members of the Council used "pink slips" — to distinguish them from the non-permanent members. The signal to Mr. Tharoor was clear; the U.S., if required, was prepared to "veto" his candidature at the October 9 formal vote in the Council.

According to Hamid Ansari, who worked as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, the media had "hyped" Mr. Tharoor's candidature. Asked if his withdrawal would create problems for India on the diplomatic front, Mr. Ansari said, "On the whole, we will be able to weather the impact."

Announcing his withdrawal from the race in New York, Mr. Tharoor said in a statement that he had written to Mr. Ban to express his warmest congratulations on the outcome of the informal poll.

"I should like to express my gratitude to the Government of India for having nominated me as its official candidate. Though I have never been an official of the Government, I consider it a great honour to have been the bearer of India's nomination, as well as of the hopes and aspirations of so many well-wishers in India and around the world."

The U.N. official said he had been "humbled" by the support, good wishes and prayers that were conveyed to him. "Although I did not win the race, it is a matter of genuine pride to me that I was deemed worthy by so many people and [I] won the votes of so many governments."

No negative votes

for Ban

UNI reports from the U.N.:

Mr. Ban received 14 positive votes and no negative vote from the permanent five while Mr. Tharoor came next with 10 votes in favour, three against and two ``no opinions.''

A candidate is required to get at least nine positive votes and no negative vote to succeed in the race.

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