UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's second mandate will end next year, and his successor will be elected in the summer of 2016.

For now, it is known that the next UN chief will come from an Eastern European country.

The unofficial race has already begun, but the road to the top UN job is very long. In order to become a candidate, a hopeful must first obtain official endorsement of their country, followed by a long path through the maze of international lobbying.

Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, Director General of UNESCO Irena Bokova from Bulgaria, former President of Slovenia Danilo Turk, and Foreign Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak have already emerged as candidates.

Although Reuters in the past described former Serbian Foreign Minister and former UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic as "the most serious candidate," he is yet to make the first step toward becoming one - namely, gain the backing of his country's government.

"Many countries in the region are putting forward their candidates, which is of course very good for those countries," Jeremic told B92, and added:

"I think it's important to participate in this race, but the decision is for those who have received a legitimate right to govern this country. I am not in contact with anyone who decides."

Those who decide, meanwhile, say that no decision has been made yet.

"A decision will be made in the coming months, according to a procedure that is in place. There is still time," said Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

A candidature must not be vetoed in the Security Council, which proposes a candidate to the General Assembly where a new secretary-general will be elected.

"I think it's a rather important thing for our region. I think that there is less and less doubt in the international community that someone from our region will take over from Ban-Ki-moon, it is Eastern Europe's turn," Jeremic said.

Former Serbian President Boris Tadic has also been mentioned as a potential candidate. He did not want to speak for B92, but his PR services said he never considered the move, nor had any discussions on the subject.