The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced on Thursday the nomination of Ashraf Ghani, former Finance Minister of Afghanistan, as the candidate for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Afghan government believes that Ashraf Ghani is "uniquely equipped to lead the United Nations at time when imagination and leadership are required in both security and development," said a government press release.

With experience at the frontlines of conflict and poverty, Ghani stands at the intersection of Islam and the West with the capacity to bring the world together at a time of growing religious and geographical tension, according to the press release.

Ghani, currently chancellor of Kabul University, served as Afghanistan's finance minister. Before that he worked for the World Bank in Asia, spending 10 years working in China, India and Russia. "He is therefore particularly sensitive to the opportunities presented by the world's emerging economies," the press release said.

The Afghan government encourage members of the United Nations to support Ghani's nomination to become the next Secretary-General, the press release added.

The term of current UN Secretary-Genera Kofi Annan expires on Dec. 31. He has served two five-year terms and cannot serve again. According to UN tradition, the next Secretary-General should come from Asia, though the United States and some other countries argue the race should be wide open.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)