SOUTH KOREA: South Korean FM Ban Ki-Moon thanks the UN for supporting his bid to be the next Secretary General

Record ID: 498520

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Korean FM Ban Ki-Moon thanks the UN for supporting his bid to be the next Secretary General
  • Date: 3rd October 2006
  • Summary: MORE OF STREET
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAXDTIO3SIL3RGNODJVUI6LYGN
  • Story Text: South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon is likely to succeed Kofi Annan as U.N. Secretary-General after cementing his lead in an informal poll on Monday (October 02) with no opposition from the five council powers.
    Comfortably ahead of his five competitors in the poll, Ban's selection is nearly assured. An official poll is expected to be held on October 9 after which the 192-member U.N. General Assembly must approve the council's recommendation.
    On Tuesday (October 03) morning, even on South Korea's Foundation Day holiday, Ban appeared at Seoul's foreign ministry office to be surrounded crowds of press people..
    At his interview with a pool TV crew and some reporters, Ban said he's happy but he feels grave responsibility at the same time.
    "I am deeply grateful for the trust and support from U.N. Security Council members. And it's also my personal honour, I think," said Ban.
    "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility at the same time because the U.N. secretary-general has a very important task such as the reform of the U.N. secretariat, working for peace, security, human rights improvement and development."
    Ban added many tasks remained to be done at the U.N. Secretariat.
    "It is true that the U.N. secretariat has drawn much criticism whether it has properly responded to unprecedented threats and challenges and for its inefficiency and corruption, said Ban.
    In second place was Shashi Tharoor, 50, an Indian author and the U.N. undersecretary-general for public information with 10 votes in favour, three against -- one of which was a veto-holding member -- and two "no opinions."
    Tharoor made it clear he was withdrawing from the race, showing "strong support" to Ban. He was sure that Ban would be the next secretary-general.
    The informal poll was the fourth held since July and the first to distinguish between permanent members and the other 10 nations, elected for two-year terms.
    Council members marked ballots to "encourage, discourage or express no opinion" as in three previous informal polls. Each member could vote for more than one of the seven candidates.
    Ban, 62, received 14 votes in favour and one "no opinion" but no negative vote from any of five permanent members with veto power. The five -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- used blue-coloured ballots, while the 10 rotating members used white ones.
    U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton said that although he would not speak about whom he voted for, the U.S. did support Ban.
    China's U.N. ambassador Wang Guangya said he believed the future of the Secretary-General's office was clear. He said: "It is quite clear from today's vote that Minister Ban Ki-Moon is the candidate the Security Council will recommend."
    A candidate is required to get at least nine positive votes and no veto from the 15-member U.N. Security Council in the race to succeed Annan, who ends his 10-year term on December 31.
    Most council ambassadors agreed, especially at the insistence of China, that the next secretary-general should come from Asia because of a tradition that the post rotate among regions of the world.
    The last Asian secretary-general was Burma's U Thant, in office from 1961-1971.
    Seoul citizens on the street were happy at the news of Ban's victory at the start of a national holiday week
    "As a Korean, I congratulate Mr. Minister on his victory. And I believe he will do a good job for the world peace," said 34-year-old Han Hyun-suk.
    Other citizens expressed their hope for Ban to do well as the U.N. Secretary General..
    "There are many poor countries as well as rich countries in the world. I'd like Ban to fairly work for the benefit of the poor countries," said 39-year-old Lee Seok-ho.
    The other citizen showed his interest in the matters relating to North Korea.
    "Our country has lots of difficulties due to the matters of North Korea. I'd like Ban to let the world know about what the real North Korea is," said Kim Joon-chul.
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