Zénon Mukongo Ngay (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the process of appointing and selecting the next Secretary-General - Security Council Media Stakeout Media Stakeouts Date: 10 July 2026 Language: Floor (Original) Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/fr/asset/k13/k13lk5zouk?lang=floor Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- Ambassador [0:01]: We're still still in the morning. Good morning. Yes, we had the hearings with members of Security Council and with the candidates members of Security Council held an informal dialogue. on 7th July 2026. With Miss Macky Sall. As a candidate presented by the Republic of Burundi. For the position of Secretary General of the United Nations. The member of Security Council also held an informal dialogue the same day, July seven, twenty twenty six, with Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, as a candidate presented by Argentina for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations. And at last, the members of Security Council held an informal dialogue on nine July twenty twenty six with Miss Carolyn Rodriguez Birket. As a candidate presented by Guyana for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations. During the dialogue with each of them, the candidate presented their views on the challenges and opportunities faced by the United Nations. This was followed by an interactive exchange with council members. 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 provisions of Article ninety seven of the UN Charter. The Joan letter of twenty. five November, twenty twenty five, from the president of 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 recommendation 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 office. I thank you. Journalist [2:45]: Ambassador, can you describe the the nature of the interactions? Does each council member ask numerous questions? How does it work? Ambassador [2:56]: There was a lot of questions. Each member of a council has one or two questions of clarification on all the challenges the United Nations is facing, as you know. So I don't want to go into detail. You know what the challenges we are facing are? So there was question on all of these challenges. And the candidates express themselves how they plan to to address those questions, those difficult challenges. And so we have a picture of what each candidate want to do once elected secretary general. And also, I want to to clarify that there is one more candidate who is not around here. And I believe the hearing will take place on the twenty seventh. On the twenty seventh. To to finish all of them. So we have taken three so far. And there is one remaining. Journalist [3:53]: Is that Espinoza? Ambassador [3:54]: That's Espinoza, yes. She's not around. Journalist [3:56]: Ambassador, can you update us on the first straw poll, the date? Has there been any change on that? Ambassador [4:01]: Well, the date is still the same. As I said during the press conference It will be on the thirty of July. So the date has not changed. I thank you very much. And look forward to meeting you next time. Thank you.