MOSCOW, September 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Moscow Boiko Kotsev discussed on Monday aspects of the United Nations activities, the Russian foreign ministry reported.
"On September 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov invited Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Moscow Boiko Kotsev for a conversation. The sides discussed certain aspects of the United Nations activities," the ministry said.
Last week, Bulgarian mass media said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had allegedly persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin to support Kristalina Georgieva as Bulgaria’s candidate for United Nations Secretary General instead of UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova nominated by Bulgaria earlier. These reports were refuted on September 11 by Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov and foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
The office term of the United Nations current Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who has been in office since January 1, 2007, expires on December 31. Under the existing procedure, a candidate is recommended by the United Nations Security Council to be approved by at least two thirds of the 193 member states at the General Assembly. A candidate is to enroll support from nine members, of the United Nations Security Council, including its five permanent members.