Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed support Monday for a bid by a candidate from Asia to become the next secretary general of the United Nations.
"Lavrov expressed support for the Asian regional grouping in the UN which, in accordance with standard practice, has the right to put forward its candidate for the post of next secretary general," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Lavrov was speaking at a meeting with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Pan Ki-Mun at which they also discussed Russian-South Korean relations and regional issues, including negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear programme, the ministry said.
The new secretary general is appointed by the General Assembly, but on the recommendation of the Security Council, where five countries, including Russia, have veto power over all decisions.
Current UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's term expires in December this year. He, like his predecessor, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, is from Africa.