ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, December 14, 1996            TAG: 9612160059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-7  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS
SOURCE: Associated Press

SECURITY COUNCIL NAMES GHANAIAN AS NEW U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL

Kofi Annan of Ghana, an urbane, soft-spoken insider who runs United Nations peacekeeping, was chosen Friday by the Security Council to become the world body's seventh secretary-general.

Council President Francesco Paolo Fulci of Italy announced the 15-member council agreed by acclamation on Annan as the successor to Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, whose attempt to serve a second term was vetoed last month by the United States.

The council, which made its decision after France dropped its opposition to the 58-year-old Annan, reached agreement on a new secretary-general Friday morning, then convened again Friday evening to make the decision formal.

His name will be referred to the 185-member General Assembly for ratification, probably Tuesday. Ratification is a mere formality. Annan's five-year term will begin Jan.1.

Annan said the United Nations must embark ``upon a time of healing to restore confidence between governments and this institution in order to help replenish its financial strength and its political and moral authority.''

Annan's unanimous selection defused what could have been a wrenching succession struggle after the United States defied the rest of the council and unilaterally vetoed Boutros-Ghali on Nov. 19. Washington contended that the 74-year-old Egyptian was sluggish in promoting U.N. reform.

Annan said his main goal would be to work closely with the 185 U.N. member states to decide ``what sort of U.N. we want in the 21st century and in a climate where financial resources are diminishing.''

``I also want to work closely with the member states to put the U.N. on a sound financial basis,'' Annan said. ``I hope to make the U.N. an organization of `we the people' by opening it up to the public with good programs and seeking their support.''

LENGTH: Short :   43 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshot) Annan