07/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - Donald J. Johnston of Canada, who has held office since June 1996, will not be requesting a new term of tenure as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). On Wednesday, he informed the representatives of the organisation's member nations of his intention to resign in May 2006, and expressed the hope that his successor would be designated "as soon as possible in order to make transition easier". In his letter, the secretary-general, who is currently assisted by four assistant secretaries general, also recommends cutting the number of these posts to two. In practice, he suggests filling only one of the three posts for which holders must be renewed in 2006 "in order to lighten the structure and cut central management costs while ensuring representation of three regions - Asia Pacific, America and Europe".