Original: Secretary-General of the United Nations Appointment On 13 December 1996 , Annan was recommended by the United Nations Security Council to replace the previous Secretary-General , Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt , whose second term faced the veto of the United States .
Simplified: His work at the United Nations Annan became Secretary-General of the United Nations in January of 1997 , succeeding Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt .