Uzbekistan backs UAE's Lana Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General post

Uzbekistan supports the nomination of Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE's Minister of State and former permanent representative to the United Nations, as a candidate for UN Secretary-General. The decision was announced in a statement from the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said the appointment of a new Secretary-General is particularly important as global calls grow for the UN to strengthen its authority and improve its effectiveness. According to the statement, the new Secretary-General should have high professional skill, rich diplomatic experience, and the ability to unite the efforts of member states in maintaining international peace and security and achieving sustainable development goals.

The mandate of the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, ends in late 2026, and the new UN leader must take office on 1 January 2027. The Secretary-General is elected for a five-year term and may be re-elected once. Under the UN Charter, the General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council. The Security Council had earlier said it had not reached agreement on a candidate.