The six candidates vying to lead the United Nations stressed the importance of restoring the credibility of an organization in crisis during a restrained debate Thursday, one week before the selection process formally starts. The candidates have already faced three hours of questioning each from representatives of the 193 UN member states. On July 30, the 15 members of the Security Council are due to hold their first closed-door, anonymous vote on their preferences among the candidates. The name of the selected candidate will then be sent to the General Assembly for the formal appointment to the position. Other candidates like Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett also have significant numbers of admirers," International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan told AFP.