A diplomat from Costa Rica could become the new UN Secretary-General — The Guardian
Costa Rican diplomat Rebecca Greenspan has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the position of UN Secretary-General. If elected, she could become the first woman in history to lead the United Nations.
According to The Guardian, Greenspan received significant support during an informal poll in the UN Security Council. In the vote, she received 10 “encouraging” votes, while four representatives stated they had no opinion on her candidacy, and one voted against her.
Greenspan currently heads the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Previously, she served as vice president of Costa Rica and held a number of international posts.
Her candidacy is particularly significant given expectations that the next UN Secretary-General will be a representative from Latin America. Among the other candidates for the position is Caroline Rodriguez-Birkett of Guyana.
Greenspan is also known for her work in the economic sphere. Under her leadership, UNCTAD, in particular, prepared reports on the economic consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Her personal history is also linked to the theme of war and peace. Greenspan’s parents were Jewish refugees who survived the Holocaust and settled in Costa Rica after World War II.
The final decision on the new UN Secretary-General will be made by the Security Council and the General Assembly. The current head of the organization, António Guterres, is set to step down at the end of 2026.
Source: The Guardian
As a reminder, the UN Security Council will discuss the treatment of Ukrainians held captive by Russia.
Denmark, which holds the presidency of the UN Security Council in August, plans to push for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. The country also intends to keep the issue of Russian aggression among the Security Council’s top priorities.
