VARIOUS: SPECIAL REPORT: WALDHEIM WITHDRAWS FROM RACE FOR UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERALSHIP.

Record ID: 861201

  • Title: VARIOUS: SPECIAL REPORT: WALDHEIM WITHDRAWS FROM RACE FOR UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERALSHIP.
  • Date: 3rd December 1981
  • Summary: VIENNA ,AUSTRIA ( 10 JULY 1978) (FILE) (REUTERS - NOEL ALEXANDRE) SV 10 July, 1978: Waldheim meets Sadat in Vienna. 2.22
  • Embargoed: 18th December 1981 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria, Germany, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: Usa Nigeria Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6DAAXJ0PHI6TCED9S4481PGE
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: INTRODUCTION: The Secretary General of the United Nations. Kurt Waldheim, has withdrawn his attempt to win election for a third term. His withdrawal came after his candidacy had been vetoed 16 times by China. His rival, Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania, who has been vetoed by the United States, was said by Security Council sources to be planning to withdraw his candidacy as well, to allow consideration to other candidates. Several diplomats, mainly from Latin America, have expressed interest in the job, Mr. Waldheim's term of office began in 1971, when he was sworn into office by Adam Malik, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, who was President of the General Assembly.

    SYNOPSIS:
    Shortly afterwards he was confronted with trouble on the Indian sub-continent. Tension was continuing as the aftermath of the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. During a visit to Pakistan, he was met by thousands of women whose husbands were still held prisoner in India. Mr. Waldheim's mediation helped to defuse the crisis between the two countries.

    Nigeria, 1974, and Mr. Waldheim was in Africa meeting General Yakubu Gowan, Nigeria's leader. Their talks covered the international energy crisis, the Middle East, colonialism and apartheid.

    Then in 1976, Mr. Waldheim was re-elected for another term as Secretary General.

    Tension in the Middle East occupied much of Mr. Waldheim's energies. In July, 1978, he met Egypt's leader, President Sadat. These were the early days of Egyptian-Israeli reconciliation, and both sides were preceding cautiously. Israel had just rejected Egypt's latest proposals, and Cairo was making a counter offer. At this meeting, Mr. Waldheim secured Egyptian commitment to reopen the Geneva Conference on the Middle East if peace negotiations with Israeli failed.

    The division of Germany was another issue. Since East German party leader Eric Honecker led his country into the United Nations in 1973, Mr. Waldheim had sought to strike a balance between the two Germanies. It was after a visit to Bonn that he came to East Berlin, for talks with Mr. Honecker.

    But apartheid remained one of his main concerns.
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