Ban Ki-moon will be the new UN Secretary General beginning next year. Mr. Ban was appointed by the UN General assembly to this important post the day before yesterday. The former South Korean Foreign minister spoke to the members and later to the press, about his hopes for the UN. Quoting from the NYT story,Mr. Ban said he had appreciated the United Nations from his youth for the role the organization played in creating and rebuilding his war-torn country.
He also said he had been “pained by scenes of its failures” in his travels in recent years. “In too many places could I feel the dismay over inaction of the U.N., or action that was too little or came too late.” He pledged, “I am determined to dispel the disillusionment.”
. . . Mr. Ban defeated six other candidates for the job in four informal polls of the Council and was officially elected by the 15-member panel on Monday.
(photo credit: Zach Carter)
Perhaps Mr. Ban can be a peacemaker. Self-effacing but confident, Mr. Ban gave hints about the style we can expect as he goes about his very challenging work. To quote further from the (10/13/06) New York Times story by Warren Hoge:
In his speech, he asked that people understand his modest manner as a cultural attribute and not misread it as lack of decisiveness or passion.References:
“Asia is a region where modesty is a virtue,” he said.
“But the modesty is about demeanor,” he said, “not about vision and goals. It does not mean the lack of commitment or leadership. Rather it is quiet determination in action to get things done without so much fanfare.”
- United Nations - website
- Wikikpedia United Nations
- United Nations System of Organizations - web site locator
2 comments:
i wonder if he knows what the hell he has gotten himself into. i just want bolton out.
It is the Asians' turn, and that's ok, I think. Mr.Ban was a pre-adolescent when the UN was so important to the survival of his country. I speculate that he wants to "give back" in some kind of way. He will just blandly smile as Bolton blusters, who may then think his support was misplaced. We'll see.
Thanks for your comment, B. It is always good to get your take on stuff.
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