Montenegro Endorses FM Luksic for UN Top Job Candidacy

Montenegro has formally submitted the candidacy of its Foreign Minister, Igor Luksic, as a candidate to take over as UN Secretary General.

He has become the fifth officially nominated candidate since the race was launched. The other two are his Croatian counterpart Vesna Pusic and Macedonia's former FM Srdjan Kerim, who has also served as President of the United Nations for the UNGA 2007 session.

Bulgaria, whose national, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, is thought by some to be "a front-runner", has not yet submitted an official nomination - a move required under UN rules if a candidate is to run. Reports have emerged that EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva might also seek to get the endorsement.  

Earlier on Tuesday, former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic announced he would not run for the office despite having been widely pointed as a candidate.