Christina Markus Lassen (Security Council President/ Denmark) on informal dialogues with Secretary-General candidates - Security Council Media Stakeout
Media Stakeouts
Date: 20 August 2026
Language: Floor (Original)
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k10/k107lfeqwf?lang=floor
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Security Council · President of the Security Council [0:04]:

New topic. All right. I'll just be doing as the presidency of the Security Council to press press elements after the two dialogues that the Security Council had today with the two most recent Security Council candidates. You've seen it before. But I'll start with the first one and then I'll go to the second. So members of the Security Council held an informal dialogue on 20th August 2026 with Mr. Olaru Otunu as a candidate presented by Uganda for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations. During the dialogue, Mr. Otuanu presented his views on challenges and opportunities faced by the United Nations before council members as questioned and interacted with him. The position of the Secretary General is one of great importance. The Security Council will continue the process of selecting the Secretary General in accordance with the provisions of Article 97 of the UN Charter, the 25th November 2025 joint letter from the president of the General Assembly and the president of the Security Council, and guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity in a structural and timely matter. The Security Council plans to make its recommendations to the General Assembly in a timely manner, so that the appointment by the assembly allows the new elected Secretary General sufficient time to prepare for the job. I have a second press element. Members of the Security Council held an informal dialogue on 20th August 2026. with Ms.. Yvonne Abbaki as a candidate presented by Tonga for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations. During the dialogue Ms. Abbaki presented her views on challenges and opportunities faced by United Nations before council members asked questions and interacted with her. The position of Secretary General is one of great importance. The Security Council will continue the process of selecting the Secretary General, in accordance with the provisions of Article 97 of the UN Charter, the 25th November 2025 joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of Security Council, and guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity in a structured and timely manner. The Security Council plans to make its recommendations to the General Assembly in a time manner, so that the appointment by the assembly allows the newly elected secretary general sufficient time to prepare for the job. I thank you.


Journalist [2:39]:

Are you satisfied with the way that the president of the general