Posted on 12/14/2006 9:24:12 PM PST by NormsRevenge
UNITED NATIONS - South Korea's Ban Ki-moon took the oath of office as the next secretary-general of the United Nations on Thursday, promising to restore the organization's tarnished reputation and push for peace in the Middle East and Darfur.
In his sharpest comments, he said Iran's call for Israel's destruction and its dismissal of the Nazi Holocaust were "unacceptable," and he expressed concern about the regional and global implications of Tehran's nuclear program.
Ban also said he planned to become "directly engaged" in efforts to bring peace to Sudan's Darfur region, adding his first trip may be to an African Union summit in late January. The AU provides the peacekeeping force in Darfur which has been unable to quell nearly four years of violence that has left more than 200,000 people dead and created a massive humanitarian crisis.
"The suffering of the people of Darfur is simply unacceptable, and despite intensive efforts, the security situation appears to be deteriorating over recent days," he said.
Calling himself "a harmonizer and bridge-builder," Ban said his first priority when he takes the reins of the U.N. on Jan. 1 will be "to restore trust," in the organization. The United Nations has been criticized for corruption and mismanagement. He also pledged to try to rebuild trust among member states who have been deeply divided over U.N. reforms.
The ceremony in the General Assembly chamber first paid tribute to Kofi Annan, who steps down as the U.N. chief on Dec. 31 after 10 years.
The 192-member assembly approved a resolution by acclamation lauding Annan's "many bold initiatives" to reduce poverty, promote peace, protect the environment and launch the U.N. reform process. The assembly then gave him a standing ovation.
Ban stood with his right hand raised and his left hand on the U.N. Charter — a special request he made — as he took the oath administered by General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa.
He swore to conduct himself solely in the interests of the United Nations, and refuse to accept instructions from any government or other authority.
The 62-year-old career diplomat will be the first Asian to lead the United Nations in 35 years. It is also a milestone for South Korea, which only joined the United Nations in 1991 and still has U.N. troops on the tense border with North Korea.
Ban defeated six other candidates vying to be the U.N. chief and won final approval from the General Assembly in October.
On Thursday, he said he would prefer a woman for deputy secretary-general and was looking at several names, which he did not disclose.
Ban will oversee an organization with some 92,000 peacekeepers around the world and a $5 billion annual budget. The U.N.'s reputation has been battered by scandals in the Iraq oil-for-food program and in peacekeeping procurement. Its outdated practices need reform to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
In a brief address after being sworn in, Ban pledged "to set the highest ethical standard" and "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."
"The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets — but also one of its most vulnerable," Ban said.
Speaking to reporters, Ban singled out Middle East peace as a priority and said he will try "to energize" an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan drafted by the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers — the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the U.S.
He also expressed concern about the deteriorating situations in Lebanon and Iraq, as well as conflicts in Africa.
As South Korea's foreign minister, Ban was deeply involved in the six-nation effort to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. He said he will be watching the talks, which resume Dec. 18 in Beijing, and think about initiatives he can take as secretary-general.
Ban distanced himself from Annan's farewell address on Monday in which the secretary-general criticized the Bush administration's global leadership. Annan called on America not to sacrifice its democratic ideals while waging war and to work with other countries.
"That I think, was his own personal assessment and insight, which he gained during his tenure," Ban said.
He stressed that the U.S. was an important U.N. member and it was important to resolve differences of opinion between Washington and the world body.
In this handout photo by the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, left, shakes hands with Secretary General-elect Ban Ki-moon, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at United Nations headquarters. Ban will not officially start his new job until Jan. 1, when he will become the eighth secretary-general of the 192-nation world body. (AP Photo/United Nations, Mark Garten)
Will Ban ban Islamic terrorism?
On Thursday, he said he would prefer a woman for deputy secretary-general and was looking at several names, which he did not disclose.Preferably a pregnant lesbian woman of colour who is differently abled, an aboriginal who converted to Islam, and an undocumented worker.
Don't get me wrong I love woman, but why not the best qualified, regardless of race, religion or creed?
The UN doesn't like Bolton?
I'd prefer that they just ban the UN.
As far as a woman running the UN...
Sure, If You could bring back Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Or make Margaret Thatcher 50 again.
Or amongst ones more contemporary:
Michelle Malkin, maybe even Ann Coulter.
I'm without words that wouldn't see me banned here....
That's a relief! Maybe he'll take Harry Reid off of our hands.
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