Deputy Secretary General of the U.N , Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, has pledged for world peace, security and equality

The newly appointed Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, has pledged to push for world peace, security and equality among rich and poor countries.

Dr. Migiro, who was speaking to journalists yesterday on arrival at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, said she would also fight for abolition of the death penalty in countries that still embraced capital punishment.

Thousands of Dar es Salaam residents, cabinet ministers, members of parliament and diplomats turned up at the airport to give her a hero�s welcome when she arrived from Botswana.

Dr Migiro was appointed last week by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as his deputy.

I was shocked when I received a call from President Jakaya Kikwete informing me of the appointment. However, I received the message with calmness and confidence,� she said.

Dr. Migiro said one of challenges she would face in her new post was to ensure that peace and tranquility prevailed in the world.

�This is the major task of the United Nations. Without peace and security, there will be no development.

I have many experiences concerning United Nation activities. I understand problems of various nations because of my previous position in the government.

Before her appointment, Dr Migiro was the minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation.

She said that the fact that she grew in abject poverty would give her courage to collaborate with her colleagues to set up programmes that would help end the problem.

�I am extremely happy to have a woman from Tanzania as a Deputy UN Secretary.

Her appointment is a testimony of the important role which she has played at international level,� said Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, the UN Resident Coordinator for Tanzania.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Abasi Kandoro said Dr. Migiro�s appointment had brought great hope to Tanzania. * SOURCE: My Africa Today