Deadlock on U.N. job

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 6

Deadlock on U.N. job

NZPA-Reuter New York Compromise candidates for the post of United Nations Secretary-General have had their hopes raised by a Security Council deadlock over whether to choose the incumbent, Kurt Waldheim, or Salim Ahmed Salim; the Tanzanian Foreign Minister. Council members were scheduled to hold private consultations to be followed by another formal meeting behind closed doors today.

After six rounds of secret ballot over the last two days, Mr Waldheim, seeking an unprecedented third fiveyear term, maintained his lead but remained blocked by repeated vetoes, understood to have been cast by China.

On the only two rounds in which Mr Salim obtained the nine or more votes required for election, he was vetoed by the United States, diplomats said.

Diplomatic sources said they felt Mr Salim’s prospects now were so poor that he could be considered virtually out of contention, although he still has not withdrawn.

Several names were being mentioned yesterday as possible compromise candidates, but it appeared they might be reluctant to present themselves unless Mr Salim withdrew or the council formally declared itself at an impasse. This is something that its president, Jaime de Pinies of Spain, has refused to do. Those figuring in specula-

tion as contenders for Dr Waldheim’s job include a former United Nations under-secretary-general, Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru, whose Government has already announced he will be available if the council is unable to reach agreement on either of the two present contenders.

Others being mentioned are the Argentine Ambassador in London, Carlos Ortiz de Rozas, who was a candidate for Secretary-General in 1971; the Mexican Foreign Minister, Jorge Castaneda; Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and the Commonwealth Secretary-Gen-eral, Sir Shridath Ramphal of Guyana.