Could Bill Clinton become Secretary General of the UN?

[Rowdyboy]

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041020-025642-9944r.htm

I understood that permanent members of the security council were barred from the secretary generalship. However, after reading much of the UN charter and doing some research, I can't find any proof to back this up. Surely someone here knows for certain!


Damn, that would be fine

[951]

1. No

Despite the wishful thinking its not going to happen remember we're not exactly liked around the world.

[Maple]

2. I can't find any such rule either

so if someone knows, I'd also appreciate the source of this belief. :D

[Sinnerman]

3. Clinton would bring civility to the world like he did in the90's

[pffarrell]

13. yeah, like when he kept selling all those weapons to use on E Timor

Just finished a depreesing book: The Exception to the Rulers by Amy Good man. Read it and weep. I did.

[kixot]

4. It's not a rule, it's more of a tradition.

So you won't find it in the charter, I scoured it last night and came up empty handed. If you look at the history of the UN it's only a traditional provision, not a demand. Either way, the chances of Clinton taking on Anan's position once he vacates it are slim to nil. He COULD be assigned to an ambassadorship to the UN, though.

[SnowGoose]

5. How about "Justice Clinton"?

If memory serves, his area of study was constitutional law... even though he's not been a judge, it'd be great to see him referred to as "Supreme Court Justice Clinton."

[TahitiNut]

7. That'd cause several cerebral hemorrhages on the right, for sure.

Calling Dr. Frist. Oops, he's down, too. :evilgrin:

[erpowers]

9. Can He Be a Justice

I know he is a lawyer, but I think he lost his license to practice in the state of Arkansas. So is he still eligible to practice law and can he be a justice if he lost his license to practice law?

[charlie]

10. There are no requirements

He just has to be nominated and approved.

[TahitiNut]

12. Correct. And former Presidents have become Supreme Court Justices.

(Taft was one, iirc.) No law degree is even required.

[TahitiNut]

6. I doubt he'd be elected.

People who've been elected as Secretary General have long histories in international diplomacy and within the United Nations itself. That job really requires a detailed understanding of the internal workings of the UN, both 'official' and cultural. They've also been fluently multi-lingual and multi-cultural, having detailed knowledge of the legalisms in various countries. I don't doubt Bill could make a difference in this sphere, but I don't think his credentials match up to former Secretary Generals.

[Spazito]

8. There doesn't seem to be anything that expressly forbids a ...

permanent member from being elected to the office of Secretary General but, looking at the list, none of the 5 permanent members have had a representative be elected:

Here is the process for election and a list of who have held the office since 1946:

How is the Secretary-General appointed?
The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council. The
Secretary-General's selection is therefore subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Security
Council.

Mr. Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1 January 1997. His predecessors
were:

Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt), who held office from January 1992 to December 1996;
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru), who served from January 1982 to December 1991;
Kurt Waldheim (Austria), who held office from January 1972 to December 1981;
U Thant (Burma, now Myanmar), who served from November 1961, when he was appointed acting Secretary-General (he was formally appointed Secretary-General in November 1962) to December 1971;
Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden), who served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Africa in September 1961; and
Trygve Lie (Norway), who held office from February 1946 to his resignation in November 1952.

Although there is technically no limit to number of five-year terms a Secretary-General may serve, none so far has held office for more than two terms.

[onenote]

11. I doubt an American could get the job

[robcon]

14. The SG office almost always goes to a non-aligned member.

I've never heard of any literal prohibition for the SG to come from a Security Council member. But it would be a rare instance where the other members of the Security Council would allow the Secretary-General to come from one of the other members of the Security Council.

[Free2BMe]

15. whereever we can use him ...would be fine..as long as he is well.