site.btaPresident: Bulgarians' Dignified Showing in Race for UN Top Job No Cause to Trade Insults, Accusations

President: Bulgarians' Dignified Showing in Race for UN Top Job No Cause to Trade Insults, Accusations

Sofia, October 7 (BTA) - The dignified performance of the two Bulgarian candidates to serve as UN's next Secretary General - one being individual and the other one fielded officially by the Bulgarian government, is no occasion for mud-slinging and for hurling insults and harsh words, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said on Thursday here. "If we want to show that we are Europeans and Democrats, let's put in a good word for these two great Bulgarian women," he added, taking a question from a reporter on the country's showing in the race for the UN's top job.

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council held a vote in which former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres emerged as the next leader of the organization.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who was initially Bulgaria's candidate before the government withdrew support for her, ranked fourth with seven encourage votes, seven discourage votes and one no opinion vote. Bokova decided to remain in the
race following the Bulgarian government's decision to replace her with EU Vice President Kristalina Georgieva as the official candidate. Georgieva shared seventh place with Slovenia's former president Danilo Turk. Both of them received five encourage votes, eight discourage votes and two no opinion votes.

Plevneliev congratulated Guterres and underlined that everyone was aware of the strength of his bid right from the start of the campaign - a very successful prime minister who modernised Portugal. "This is an exceptionally skillful diplomat who has proven his capabilities in very difficult situations," Plevneliev said, adding that the historic consensus behind his selection shows true recognition.

"I strongly disagree with the view that Guterres's win makes everyone else an also-ran. This is not a race where gold, silver and bronze medals or consolatory prizes are handed out," the President said, vowing to continue to encourage Bokova and Georgieva to represent Bulgaria in a dignified manner as UNESCO Director-General and EU Vice President, respectively.

Plevneliev said he does not condone "the drama the politicians are stirring up around this topic." In his view, the dignified showing of the two Bulgarian candidates is no reason to seek the resignation of the Government. He called instead to leverage the momentum picked up during the campaign.

The opposition on Thursday urged the resignation of the Bulgarian government after the vote for UN Secretary General.