BIG applause from studio audience when Bolton mentions Annan's upcoming retirement from Secretary General position.
LOL!
How terrific for Bolton to get so much support in the audience..
Reported possible candidates
Rumours have recently surfaced that former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos have set their sights on becoming Secretary-General; however, the nomination of Mr. Clinton, who is from a Security Council state, would be a break from tradition. Other possible candidates are South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, undersecretary general for the department of public information Shashi Tharoor of India, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director General of the WHO, Tarja Halonen the current President of Finland and Vaira Vîíe-Freiberga, the current President of Latvia. However, some consider it to be Asia's turn to fill the post and both Clinton and Lagos have denied that they have aspirations to hold the job. No announcement has been made, but behind the scenes China is already pushing the candidacy of Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who also seems to have the support of the U.S., Russia, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka and José Ramos-Horta, former Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate is also considered a strong candidate. Dhanapala is well reputed in UN circles especially for his contribution to disarmament issues.
There is also a strong feeling that it should be a female Secretary-General this time, because secretaries for the past 60 years have all been men. Current New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, and New Zealand Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright have been tipped as candidates after being promoted by international women's group Equality Now.
However, countries upholding the veto power in the Security Council are nations that most likely will not see a Secretary General coming from their country, thus including China, the USA, France, the UK and Russia.
Bill Clinton has himself suggested Tony Blair, current British PM, when he retires.
Don't know much about any of the nominees, BJ would love the post. BJ's around the world.