Sources following the race in New York said that China and the 14 Pacific Island countries are still undecided and have continued to maintain that the candidate be chosen unanimously during the election scheduled for Friday*. Nepal´s Kul Chandra Gautam and Qatar´s Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser are in the race for the coveted post that has no executive power. [break]
"The race is in our favor as it is heading toward a positive direction," said Gautam in a telephonic conversation with Republica on Monday.
As part of the race, both candidates made their presentations at the Asia Group -- an alliance of 53 Asian countries in the UN -- on Tuesday.
In his presentation to the diplomats from Asian countries, Gautam highlighted his priorities if he is elected to the post. His agenda includes completion of the major unfinished initiatives of the previous General Assembly president, pushing a broad UN reform agenda, giving special attention to development and environmental agendas, and making the General Assembly play a more assertive, complementary role in promoting and consolidating peace and security.
"If I am elected PGA, I would want to identify a small number of such big issues as our priorities, in close consultation with all member states, starting with you -- our fellow members of the Asian Group," Gautam, a former deputy executive director of UNICEF, told the Asian diplomats Tuesday.
Those following the race said that the undecided countries are likely to take a position after examining the presentations and the credentials of the candidates.
Foreign ministry officials said that they are hopeful of open support from Beijing as such a move by the northern neighbor will be instrumental in turning the election in Nepal´s favor. New Delhi has already given formal word of support to Nepal´s candidate. Though Bangladesh and Pakistan tend to vote for Qatar, officials are hopeful that the South Asian countries will stand for SAARC solidarity in the race and vote for Gautam, also a former UN Assistant Under-Secretary General.
As of Monday, around 20 countries are undecided though 33 countries are said have made up their minds.
"If we consolidate the present situation and continue the momentum of our campaign, we are in a comfortable position in the race," said a foreign ministry official following the race, "The next three days are going to be crucial for us."
Nepal has kept its hopes for the post high in view of its long involvement in the UN. Nepal´s association with the global body dates back to 1955, 16 years before the Gulf country joined the UN.
Similarly, Nepal thinks it deserves the post because of its long-standing contribution to UN peacekeeping. Nepal is the sixth largest troop contributing country to the UN. Twenty-six Nepali peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving the UN.
Nepal has also argued that its claim to the presidency is more legitimate in light of the fact that Qatar belongs to a region - West Asia- from where the last Asian president of the UN General Assembly was elected. Bahrain had assumed the post during Asia´s last turn in 2006. South Asia had its last PGA in 1986.
Nepal and Qatar have filed nominations for the presidency as it is the turn of Asia to head the UNGA, from September 2011-2012 September. This is the first time Nepal has filed its candidacy for the coveted UN post.
The UNGA presidency rotates among five geographic groups -- African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American and Carribean and Western European and other states.
*Corrected
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