MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands/Malvinas issue: Malcorra promises to follow on Ban Ki-moon's steps

“The Secretary General has always told both sides, UK and Argentina that he is willing to do that, on which both sides agree that can be done”, said Malcorra

Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra said on Tuesday that if elected as United Nations next Secretary General she will follow on Ban Ki-moon steps when it comes to the Falklands/Malvinas issue, and downplayed the fact of her nationality in reference to the dispute.

 “The Secretary General has always told both sides, the United Kingdom and Argentina that he is willing to do that, on which both sides agree that can be done”, said Malcorra to the journalists in New York following her candidacy presentation to UN member countries.

The situation will be the same as with any other Secretary general, no matter the nationality, she added. “No matter who is Secretary General, his/her office will be always 'in the hands of member states'”.

Malcorra pointed out that while cabinet chief of Ban Ki-moon, she decided not to get involved in the Falklands/Malvinas process.

However the South Atlantic Islands dispute could become an obstacle for Malcorra's candidacy to the UN main seat, since the UK is a member of the Security Council, who have veto power, and will at the end of the day decide on the accepted candidate.

Last month Malcorra was in London where she met with Foreign secretary Philip Hammond, during which both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, according to the official release at the time.

The UN Special Decolonization Committee, or C24, every year holds a round of talks on the non self-governing territories, including the Falklands and regularly calls on both sides (UK and Argentina), to resume talks to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.

Malcorra was the tenth of eleven candidates on making a presentation out of a group of hopefuls, five women and six men, to replace Ban Ki-moon who is stepping down at the end of the year. The round of presentations before the General Assembly started last 12 April and by the end of July (20) the Security Council is expected to make the recommendation.

Besides Malcorra the other women candidates for UN Secretary General are Vesna Pusic, from Croatia; Irina Bokova, Bulgaria; Natalia Gherman, Moldavia, and Helen Clark, from New Zealand.

On other issues Malcorra said that country members recognize that the UN is the only bastion of hope for many peoples who face difficult circumstances around the world. “We are united collectively in the standing search of satisfying their needs”, as mandated by the UN charter.

“I believe in a UN which focuses on the people, the planet and shared prosperity, guided by issues and centered on generating impact”, pointed out Malcorra in her presentation.

And, in the current world, “the only way to achieve an impact is listening carefully to the people and working in harmony with local, regional and international partners”.

The Argentine minister defended the importance of UN promoting gender and geographic balance and committed herself to push for parity between women and men in top leading jobs.

According to recent media reports, but not confirmed Washington allegedly favors Malcorra. Furthermore under the UN continental rotation system, it should be Latin America's turn to hold the Secretary General seat. UN on the other hand has been a great sponsor of having a woman occupy the post.