Ban Ki-Moon

DuH2 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 02:34 PM

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(OCT 16 2006)Mr. Ban Ki-moon: As I have just been appointed, I will have some time to reflect on these issues, and by the time I take on my duty as Secretary-General next year, I’ll be able to give you some basic, broad concept of my work plans. But, if I may tell you, in principal matters, I’ll try to change the culture in which the United Nations has been operating. We need to bring new, fresh wind to the Secretariat; to bring management reforms to make Secretariat staff working on professionalism -- working on the highest level of integrity. And the Secretary-General should have some hands-on guidance through a clear direction of mission to the Secretariat so that it will be able to be more accountable to the stakeholders and Member States. This is a basic guideline which I will try to carry out in the reform process. And there are some other areas of our reform and institutional reform. As I said in my acceptance speech, I will also try to be engaged, to bridge the differences among the Member States and the major stakeholders with my experience, which I have gained during my public service.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sg2117.doc.htm

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On taking oath of office, Secretary-General-designate ban ki-moon says loyalty, discretion, conscience will be watchwords for carrying out duties

Following is the text of the address today by UN Secretary-General-designate Ban Ki-moon on taking the oath of office in the General Assembly:

I thank you warmly for your congratulations. Madam President, Secretary-General Annan, let me say how much I appreciate your words of encouragement as I contemplate the responsibilities that lie before me.

I stand before all of you today deeply mindful of the words of the oath I have just taken. Loyalty, discretion, conscience -- these, together with the Charter, will be my watchwords as I carry out my duties as Secretary-General.

To illustrate my faith in the Charter, today I asked the Secretariat to create a new practice by placing my left hand on the Charter while taking the Oath.

Secretary-General Annan, I am all the more humbled because it is you I am succeeding in what you have described as “the world’s most exalting job”. It is an honour to follow in your revered footsteps. I add my voice to the many tributes that have been paid to you today. Every one of them is richly deserved. Your tenure has been marked by high ideals, noble aspirations, and bold initiatives. Your courage and vision have inspired the world.

You have led the Organization through challenging times, and ushered it firmly into the twenty-first century. You have given the United Nations new relevance to the people’s lives. And you have been exceptionally generous to me with your wisdom and guidance, as I prepare to build on your legacy.

Thanks to the early conclusion of the appointment process, I have had the unprecedented privilege of more than two months of preparation before taking office. I have spent much of this time listening to, and learning from, my future colleagues -- among delegations, in the Secretariat, and in the wider UN family.

I have witnessed at first hand the high level of professionalism, dedication, and know-how that exists throughout the United Nations. Armed with that knowledge, I look forward even more to working with the able and courageous men and women who serve this Organization every day, often in difficult circumstances, sometimes in dangerous ones.

Today, as we pay tribute to Secretary-General Annan’s lifelong devotion to the international civil service, we also pay tribute to the calling itself. This path is narrow and steep, and transcends national borders and partisan interests. Many stumble along the way, or take easier detours. Yet, drawn to the enduring purposes and principles of the Charter, young women and men from all parts of the world, from every creed and every circumstance, still yearn to follow this path less travelled. Their enthusiasm and their idealism will animate this Organization for decades to come.

One of my core tasks will be to breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into the sometimes weary Secretariat. As Secretary-General, I will aim to reward the talent and skill of staff, while making optimal use of their experience and expertise. I will seek to improve our systems for human resource management and career development, offering opportunities for training and mobility. With the United Nations taking on a more and more global role, UN staff members, too, should be able to be more mobile and multifunctional.

At the same time, I will seek to set the highest ethical standard. The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets -- but also one of its most vulnerable. The Charter calls on staff to uphold the highest levels of efficiency, competence and integrity, and I will seek to ensure to build a solid reputation for living up to that standard. I assure you that I will lead you by example. In this way, I will work to enhance morale, professionalism and accountability among staff members, which in turn will help us serve Member States better, and restore trust in the Organization.

Equally, we should remind ourselves of what the Charter and the Report of the Preparatory Commission at the San Francisco Conference in 1945 had to say about the relationship between the Member States and the Secretariat. Neither of these founding documents suggests, at any point, that the Secretariat should be independent of the Member States. Indeed, without States, neither the Secretariat nor the Organization itself would have meaning or purpose.

Member States need a dynamic and courageous Secretariat, not one that is passive and risk-averse. The time has come for a new day in relations between the Secretariat and Member States. The dark night of distrust and disrespect has lasted far too long. We can begin by saying what we mean, and meaning what we say.

We cannot change everything at once. But we can build progress in a few areas, and so make way for progress in many more. That will require intensive and continuous dialogue. It will require us to work together transparently, flexibly and honestly. And it will require us to start with an open mind. Today, I ask both colleagues and Member States to work with me in that spirit. You have the right to expect the same of me.

As I have pledged today, my sole duty is to the Organization, its Charter and its 192 Member States. Each brings something special to our common endeavour. Each must be heard. Ultimately, we are all -- Secretariat and Member States alike -- accountable to “we the peoples”. Our publics will not long respect an Organization, or tolerate a Secretary-General, who caters to some, while ignoring the desperate plight of others. Together, we can -- and must -- do better. Our peoples and our future depend on it.

By strengthening the three pillars of the United Nations -- security, development and human rights -- we can build a more peaceful, more prosperous and more just world for our succeeding generations. As we pursue our collective endeavour to reach that goal, my first priority will be to restore trust. I will seek to act as a harmonizer and bridge-builder. And I hope to become known to all of you -- Member States or Secretariat -- as a Secretary-General who is accessible, hard-working, and prepared to listen attentively.

I will do everything in my power to ensure that our United Nations can live up to its name, and be truly united; so that we can live up to the hopes that so many people around the world place in this institution, which is unique in the annals of human history.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sg2119.doc.htm

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Question: In your speech just moments ago, you said that one of your priorities would be to restore trust in the Organization. I'm wondering if you could be more specific. In your opinion, what trust has been lost over the years at the United Nations? What needs to be mended?

Mr. Ban: There are two aspects of trust. The first aspect is that, unfortunately, there has been much criticism over the United Nations inability and inefficiencies during the last many years. Though the United Nations has been playing an instrumental role in keeping peace and security and helping developing countries to overcome their economic difficulties, the UN needs to restore confidence and trust from Member States and other major stakeholders.

The second aspect is that, unfortunately, there is some distrust and a gap of trust among Member States, and between Member States and the Secretariat. That is what I said that I will try to play a bridge role between the divergent opinions, divergent groups. Without restoring trust and confidence among the Member States and between the Member States and Secretariat management, it may be very difficult to ensure the smooth progress of all the agenda activities.

Question: What are you going to do to deal with North Korea 's development of nuclear weapons, and what are you going to do for food assistance for poor North Korean people?

Mr. Fawzi: One question, please.

Question: All right; the first question. What are you going to do to deal with North Korea 's development of nuclear weapons?

Mr. Ban: As Foreign Minister of Korea until early November, I had been dealing with this matter to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. It is encouraging that the participating countries in the Six-Party process have agreed to resume the dialogue on the 18 th of this month. I do hope that the parties of the Six-Party Talks will be able to make substantial progress to realize de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

It is essential and crucially important that North Korea commit themselves to what they made in September last year through joint statements, namely, abandoning all nuclear weapons and nuclear-weapons programmes. And the other parties of the Six-Party countries are prepared to provide the necessary economic assistance, security assurances and prospects for normalizing relations with the United States and Japan .

We do hope, I as Secretary-General-designate and future Secretary-General, coming January next year, will place high priority on this issue. I will closely follow the development of this situation and try to facilitate the Six-Party process. While watching this development of the situation, I will also think about my own initiative – what I, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, need to do, in close consultation with the members of the Security Council and the members of the Six-Party Talks.

Question: One of the subjects that you did not mention was the question of Iran and its own nuclear programme, and also its relations with Israel , especially in light of the recent Holocaust-denial conference in Tehran . I was wondering whether you plan to take any initiatives with Iran on either of those issues.

Mr. Ban: As you know, the Security Council is engaged and is currently discussing a second resolution on Iran . I hope that the issue can be resolved at the negotiating table in a timely manner.

I think that this Iranian nuclear development issue has much greater implications on the situation in the region and globally. Therefore, I would urge the authorities of Iran to engage in negotiations, as they had been with the European Union plus three countries. The most desirable way is to resolve all the pending issues in a peaceful way through dialogue.

The second part of your question was on –

Question: On Iran 's relations with Israel , whose elimination it has called for, and also the denial of the Holocaust.

Mr. Ban: Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any State or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected both in rhetoric and in practice by all the members of the international community.

Question: Dear Mr. Secretary, on behalf of the Islamic Republic News Agency, I welcome you to the UN. My question is: Israel has officially ended its nuclear ambiguity policy, and Mr. Olmert has publicly confirmed the possession of nuclear weapons by Israel . Don't you think that peace and security in the region have been seriously threatened?

Mr. Ban: Again, I would urge the parties concerned, on this issue, should engage themselves in dialogue so that all the issues could be resolved in a peaceful way.

Question: I would like to ask about the Holocaust denial conference one more time. The Iranian President denied the event that actually led to the foundation of this Organization. I was wondering how you intended to address that issue – if the United Nations is going to address that issue.

Mr. Ban: Again, it is a historical fact, and denying historical facts, especially such a very important historical fact as the Holocaust, is not acceptable. It is not acceptable. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself visited Iran and had a series of dialogue with the Iranian leadership and other senior-level people. Wherever and when, and if the situation requires me to do, I am also prepared to engage in dialogue with the Iranian leadership.

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Question: Mr. Secretary-General-designate, do you think you need to do something to revitalize the UN image with the US people? Do you agree with or repudiate Secretary-General's Annan speech at the Harry Truman library about the United States not going it alone and world domination? The UN-US connection – the host country – can you talk about that?

Mr. Ban: The United States is one of the important Member States, as everybody will agree. The United States was one of the creators of this United Nations. It is the largest financial contributor and has been making important contributions for the peace and prosperity of the international community. Therefore we need the active support and participation of the United States in the activities of the United Nations. The United Nations needs such active participation of the United States .

At the same time, I believe that the United States also values highly the ideals, goals and objectives of the United Nations, and that is why they have been participating very actively. There might have been – there may be some occasions that the interests of the United States or goals of the United Nations may not have been the same. But even in such a case, it is very important to discuss, to resolve the difference of opinions, and I, as Secretary-General, will try to harmonize so that we can expect constructive contribution and participation of the United States into all activities of the United Nations.

Question: And the Annan speech?

Mr. Ban: That, I think, was his own personal assessment and insight, which he gained during his tenure.

http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/sg...nf_14dec06.htm

The end of the Annan era of believing the Secretary General is a world leader(nation state leader)..of ho humming despots and maybe more importantly glossing over massive fraud while blaming the USA for all the ills in tarnation looks likey to be over.