Ban seeks new term as UN chief

UNITED NATIONS: Ban Ki-moon on Monday put himself forward for a second five-year term as UN secretary general and dip

Published June 6, 2011 Updated June 6, 2011 07:20pm

4 min

By Abdul Ahad

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The 66-year-old former South Korean foreign minister said he would make the battle against climate change his top priority and defended his action in criticizing the world powers on issues such as human rights.

Ban told a press conference he had sent a letter to the 192 UN member states to "humbly" offer himself for a new term.

"It has been an enormous privilege to lead this great organization. If supported by the members states, I would be deeply honored to serve once more," he said.

Ban took over from Kofi Annan as secretary general on January 1, 2007 and his term ends on December 31. Diplomats say that with no rival in sight, the UN Security Council should quickly give its approval and the UN General Assembly will hold a formal vote before the end of June.

China and France, among the five permanent members of the Security Council, quickly came out in support of Ban's bid.

China's UN ambassador Li Baodong said Asian nations backed Ban and that he had strengthened the UN role in promoting "peace and development" during his term.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: "For the last five years, the secretary general has shown faultless commitment to the service of the United Nations, peace, and also development. He has shown courage and determination in a period of crisis."

Ban said his first term had been an "extraordinary challenge" for the United Nations.

"We can be proud of what we accomplished together. We have raised climate change to the top of the global agenda, we have responded quickly and effectively in areas of devastating humanitarian emergencies" in Myanmar, Haiti, Pakistan and elsewhere, the UN chief said.

"We have saved many lives and sowed the seeds of peace in Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d'Ivoire. They must be nurtured."

The UN leader said climate change would remain his top priority in any second term.

"I will spare no effort," Ban said, defending his record in the troubled climate talks during his first five years. "This is the most important priority for human beings."

Ban has faced most criticism as UN leader for his reluctance to tackle the Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and United States -- over issues such as rights.

When asked at the press conference whether he would be tougher with the permanent powers, Ban said: "I would like to make it quite clear when it comes to universal human rights there is no such distinction or difference."

He also said that China must improve its human rights.

Ban has been criticized by rights groups about his use of "quiet diplomacy" with China and other major nations.

But the UN secretary general insisted that he has always spoken out on human rights, which he called a "cornerstone" of the UN charter.

"I have been speaking with them (China) constantly about improvement, the necessity of improvement of human rights in China," Ban told the press conference.

"I will continue to discuss this matter wherever it happens."

Ban was notably criticized after a visit to China last November when he failed to raise the case of jailed Nobel Peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo in a meeting with China's President Hu Jintao.

He highlighted his record speaking out on Sri Lanka, where he set up a panel of experts to look into the deaths of thousands of civilians in a military campaign against Tamil separatists.

Ban has also been outspoken criticizing leaders of Arab nations facing uprisings in recent months. He said he would be speaking out again on the protests.

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