Slovakia to contend for post of UN Secretary-General

Slovakia will put up a fight to take up the post of United Nations' Secretary-General, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on RTVS's politics discussion programme on Saturday. "Our region is now entitled to this post, and it's true to say that Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák has our full support when it comes to his ambitions, as long as he makes them clear," said the premier. Lajčák and former Slovak foreign affairs minister Ján Kubiš are tipped to run for the position. However, Fico has previously indicated that Lajčák, rather than Kubiš, will be the candidate of the Slovak Government. The current, second term of incumbent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon doesn't expire until 31 December, 2016, but the talks about his successor are already on the table.