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Afghan university chancellor tipped as candidate for top U.N. job+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)KABUL, March 9_(Kyodo) _ The chancellor of Kabul University has been tipped as a possible candidate to succeed Kofi Annan as secretary general of the United Nations, an official said Thursday. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a former Afghan finance minister, "is a possible candidate" to replace Annan, whose second five-year term as U.N. chief ends this year, Kabul University official Sima Ghani said. The chancellor, who is now in the United States for a medical checkup, has been informally notified by the Office of the U.N. secretary general of his possible nomination, but he has not replied yet, the official said. Ashraf Ghani, born in 1949, has a doctorate from Columbia University and served as Afghanistan's finance minister during the transitional government from 2002 to 2004. He was recognized as the best finance minister in Asia in 2003 by emerging markets. During his tenure, he carried out a series of extensive reforms, including the issuance of a new currency. He has also worked as a special adviser to the United Nations on Afghanistan-related affairs and to the World Bank. The news of his possible candidacy comes at a time when Asian countries are pushing to ensure the top U.N. post is filled by a candidate from Asia. Asia has so far put forward Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka, a former U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon as candidates. |