Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry Kirill Logvinov outlined Russia's expectations for the next UN Secretary-General in an interview with TASS. These requirements include strict adherence to the UN Charter, integrity, and the full observance of the organization's principles without exception.
He noted that at this stage, Russia is "evaluating candidates and noting their approaches to key international issues and UN reform," which is seen as essential for restoring the organization’s prestige and standing.
"We believe the future UN secretary-general must strictly follow the Charter of the world organization, maintain a conscientious and non-selective approach to its principles, and refrain from eroding the intergovernmental nature of the UN or violating the 'division of labor' between its main bodies," the diplomat stated.
Correcting Past Mistakes
According to Logvinov, a critical aspect of the secretary-general’s role is the formation of the UN Secretariat’s staff. However, he argued that in recent years, "this body has been, without exaggeration, monopolized by Westerners."
"Most senior positions are held by representatives of Western minority countries or officials with dual Western citizenship," he remarked. "This situation requires urgent correction. Staff selection should be conducted on the widest possible geographical basis, as stipulated in Article 101 of the UN Charter."
Rigorous Selection and the Factor of Understanding
In this context, Loginov emphasized that Russia will place particular importance on the candidates' positions regarding the Ukrainian crisis. "We expect the future head of the UN Secretariat to properly account for our concerns — primarily the understanding that the key to a long-term peaceful settlement is the elimination of the root causes of the current situation," he specified.
"We intend to approach the selection of a specific individual with the utmost rigor, taking into account their track record, stated intentions, and, most importantly, the degree to which their approaches align with the issues on the UN agenda," Logvinov concluded.
Regarding the Election Procedure
Earlier, Annalena Baerbock, the President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, announced that the body will hold meetings with candidates for the post of secretary-general in late April. The actual selection process is scheduled for late July 2026. The term of the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, expires on December 31, 2026.
The secretary-general is elected by the UN Security Council and approved by the General Assembly for a five-year term, with the possibility of reelection. While there are no official term limits, no one has held the post for more than 10 years to date. According to established practice, the UN chief is not chosen from among the citizens of the permanent members of the Security Council — Russia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and France.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS