France refuses to take a stand for Tharoor

Thought France considers Tharoor as a friend, it says "the race has just begun and it is too early to take a stand."

France, a permanent member of the Security Council, on Tuesday night refused to take a position on India's nomination of Shashi Tharoor to the post of UN Secretary General saying it was "too early".

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"Yes we are intently following the developments after Shashi Tharoor's nomination by India. We consider Tharoor a friend of France. However, the race has just begun and it is too early to take a stand," French Ambassador to India, Dominique Girard told PTI on the sidelines of a function.

He said other countries might also field "capable candidates" adding France will decide on the issue only after "properly observing" the situation.

Asked whether France was also planning to field a candidate, Girard said Paris will follow the "convention" in the UN by which permanent members of the world body do not usually field a candidate to the UN top post.

On being asked whether India will hamper its prospects at gaining permanent membership of the UN Security Council by fielding Tharoor, Girard said he did not think that the move will have an "impact on anything else".