United States
Permanent Member
Presidency: February 2006

The United States will almost certainly endorse Ban Ki Moon in the formal vote on Monday.

The government's position that strong managerial and administrative skills remains unchanged, and its support of Ban will certainly be framed in those terms. Its firm opposition to the practice of regional rotation slipped when President Bush stated in July that the U.S. was looking in the "Far East" for a suitable candidate.

Speculation is that Zeid Raed al-Hussein, Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Ashraf Ghani were encouraged to enter the race by the U.S., while Bangkok-based The Nation has reported that the U.S. had encourage the Thai government to nominate Surin Pitsuwan. A September 28th Washington Post article however suggests that the U.S. has decided to vote only for Ban Ki Moon, after having "encouraged" both Ban and Tharoor in the earlier straw polls. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton unsuccessfully pushed for color-coded ballots in the third straw poll, but has since suggested any new candidates need to enter the race before October 2, when such differentiation will be introduced during the fourth straw poll.

Singapore officials are reported to have no interest at all in putting forward Ambassador Chan Heng Chee or former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong as candidates. Both were rumored to be on the recent U.S. short list.

China
Permanent Member
Presidency: April 2006

Ambassador Wang's statement after the straw poll indicates that China is pleased with the consensus around Ban as the next Secretary General, consistent with their firm position on a Asian for the post.

Most observers viewed China's support as the deciding factor this year, given the government's regional leadership, recent diplomatic assertiveness and firm stand for regional rotation. China, along with the U.S. and Russia, pushed for color-coded ballots in the third straw poll, suggesting it was finally willing to reveal its preferences, at least as one of the five permanent members.

Japan
Rotating Member
Presidency: October 2006

Japan will not field a candidate for the UN top post and will only back an Asian national with a view to promoting UN reform, perhaps one supportive of a Japanese permanent seat on the SC.

Japan supported holding informal meetings between candidates and regional group leaders to allow member states an opportunity to better familiarize themselves with the candidates' qualifications and for candidates to communicate their platforms. Japan is also open to implementing some changes this year, while recognizing others will require "longer-term considerations." Ban may have had difficulties gaining their support, given Korea's opposition to a permanent seat for Japan, as well as recently renewed disagreements between the two countries over Japan's wartime actions.

Japan was widely considered a likely candidate for the sole discouraging vote against Ban during the earlier straw polls. It is assumed the government will nonetheless endorse Ban on Monday.

Peru
Rotating Member
Presidency: November 2006

During a recent meeting with his Thai counterpart, Peruvian Foreign Minister Oscar Maurtua de Romana noted Peru's support for an Asian candidate per the regional rotation system and that his government was impressed with the qualifications of Mr. Surakiart. Nonetheless, the government is expected to back Ban on Monday.

Slovakia
Rotating Member
Presidency: (not this year)

Slovakia supports selection on the basis of professional criteria and experience in management. However, if regional rotation is affirmed, the government asserts that East European states reserve the privilege of presenting candidates. Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Eduard Kukan had stated that his government "will not accept that the Asian group has any sort of a right to the post" at this time according to the regional rotation principle. This has been the common position of the East European Group for the last decade, reaffirmed in a 2005 intra-group memo for all EEG members except Russia.

Nonetheless, Slovakia will almost certainly endorse Ban on Monday. The country was one of several nations which critics recently suggested had received favorable trade arrangments with South Korea in exchange for supporting Ban Ki Moon's candidacy.