European commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, a latecomer to the race to be the next secretary-general, says being the first U.N. chief from Eastern Europe and the first woman to be the world's top diplomat would demonstrate the inclusiveness and universality of the United Nations. But the Bulgarian diplomat and former World Bank vice-president said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of her hearing in the General Assembly on Monday that it's the skills and determination she would bring to the job that count most. The 63-year-old grandmother said there was "an element of surprise" when Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov asked her to enter the race after deciding to drop the country's support from UNESCO chief Irina Bokova, a fellow Bulgarian who came in sixth of nine secretary-general candidates in the fifth informal poll in the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 26 which was led by former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres. Georgieva is currently vice-president of the European Commission and its commissioner for budget and human resources. She formerly held the post of European commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response. Under the U.N. Charter, the secretary-general is elected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. In practice, this has meant that the five permanent council members with veto power â€" the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France â€" have the final say. Ten candidates are vying to succeed Ban Ki-moon whose term ends on Dec. 31.
