Costa Rica Backs Rebeca Grynspan for UN Secretary-General
Costa Ricaโค has formally proposed Rebeca โGrynspan as a candidate to become the next United Nations secretary-General. Grynspan, currently the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Growthโ (UNCTAD), brings a wealth of experience in international affairs and a distinguished career within the โขUN system to the potential role.
Grynspan previously served as Vice Minister of Finance in Costa Rica โduring the first administration of รscar Arias (1986-1988).More recently, she has held prominent positions within international organizations, aโฃ track record prioritized by Arias, who in 2021 suggested she would be a strong presidentialโ candidate – a nominationโ she declined due to existing international commitments. Grynspan herself asserts that eachโข institution she has lead hasโ beenโ improved during her tenure.
the candidacy is being โคviewed as having significant potential. Carlos Cascante, a professor at the Nationalโฃ university of Costa Rica coordinating the International policy Program, highlighted Grynspan’s valuable curriculum and deep understanding of the UN system, suggesting she likely assessedโข potential vetoes โfrom powerful Security Council โคmembers.โ Her gender, geographical origin, andโ established careerโค within the UN are also considered advantages.โ
However, Cascante also cautioned thatโค some nations seeking substantial changes within the UNโฃ might prefer a candidate with less institutional involvement. Grynspan addressedโ this concern, stating she โคis prepared to both reform and defend the United โNations, viewing multilateralism and reform as intertwined.
Support for Grynspan’s candidacy is reportedly growing, with initial expressions of backing from numerous countries. Costa Rican Foreign Ministerโข Arnoldo Andrรฉโ indicated the campaign will be relatively modest,โ leveraging existing familiarity with the candidate.
Analysts have also noted Grynspan’s Jewish heritage as a factor that coudl lead toโ increased scrutiny of her positions onโฃ the conflictโ in Gaza, notably regarding Israeli โactions impacting the Palestinian population. Cascante suggested countriesโค will likely examine her long-term record and views on the issue.
Grynspan responded by โฃreaffirming her โcommitment to theโค UN’s establishedโค positionโ advocating forโ a two-state solution and expressedโ hope thatโค her qualifications and experience wouldโฃ outweigh any potential prejudice.Sheโฃ emphasized that herโ identity fosters empathy, not bias, citing โher demonstrated record throughout her UN career.
Grynspan hasโค returned to Geneva to continue her duties at UNCTAD while simultaneouslyโ managing the demands of her campaign for the Secretary-General position, with formalization of her nomination expected in the coming months. The chaves government in Costa Rica, which maintains a pleasant relationship with Washington and has expressed concerns aboutโ Chinese investment, is expected to support her bid.