UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Candidates from Ecuador and Honduras have announced their intentions to run for president of the 73rd UN General Assembly, the spokesman for the current president, Miroslav Lajcak, announced on Friday.

　　Honduras Ambassador to the United Nations Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake and the Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces were the first two candidates, the spokesman for Lajcak, Brenden Varma, told reporters at a daily briefing in UN Headquarters.

　　Following an informal policy of geographical rotation for the one-year post, candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean are eligible for election scheduled for June 5, the spokesman said.

　　This time around women were particularly encouraged to enter the contest, Varma said. Lajcak is foreign minister of Slovakia, representing the Eastern European bloc.

　　"For the first time ever, the assembly will hold informal interactive dialogues with the candidates," Varma said, adding that they will be held in early May. "The goal is to promote transparency and inclusivity."