UNITED NATIONS, September 17 (HS/RIA Novosti) - Candidate for UN Secretary-General Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said that if elected, she is ready for direct engagement with Russia and Ukraine to work toward peace.

As I mentioned on several occasions, I would not be afraid to call those in authorities, whether it is in Ukraine, Russia, whether it is any other conflict as well, always with the objective of working towards peace, Rodrigues-Birkett told RIA Novosti.

She opined that the UN Secretary-General should act as a neutral mediator, and not only talk to all parties to the conflict, but also strive to prevent its occurrence.

Currently, there are eight candidates for the top UN job. Among them are the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, former Ugandan Foreign Minister Olara Otunnu, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.

Female candidates include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan, former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba.

The second and final term of current UN Chief Antonio Guterres will end on December 31.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar