Vuk Jeremic Serbian candidate for UN Secretary General

Serbian Government officially backed his candidacy. "It's huge privilege to represent your country in such important elections. We have a chance to increase the reputation of Serbia in the world and I will give everything in my power to present us in the best light", Jeremic said.

Vuk Jeremic speaks during the 67th session of the General Assembly at UN headquarters Source: AP

Vuk Jeremic is former President of the United Nations General Assembly (2012-2013) and former Serbian Minister of foreign affairs (2007-2012).

He declared his intention for UN Secretary-General candidacy back in November 2013.

For the first time this year UN Secretary General candidates are facing the new public questioning process. The move marks a distinct change in the UN's 70-year history, which has previously always chosen its next candidate behind closed doors.

Besides Jeremic, other campaigners are former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, former head of the UN's refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, ex-assistant UN secretary-general and former Slovenian president Danilo Turk, Croatia’s former Foreign Minister, Dr Vesna Pusic, Bulgarian Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, former Macedonian minister for foreign affairs Srdjan Kerim and former minister for foreign affairs of Moldova Natalia Gherman.