The Beginning Of A New Age
The New York Times reported on the new, incoming Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon:
Ban Ki-moon of South Korea was sworn in Thursday as the next secretary general of the United Nations, and he pledged to rebuild faith in an organization that has been tarnished by scandal and riven by disputes between rich and poor nations.
“You could say that I am a man on a mission, and my mission could be dubbed ‘Operation Restore Trust’: trust in the organization, and trust between member states and the Secretariat,” he said.
He added, “I hope this mission is not ‘Mission: Impossible.’ ”
Mr. Ban, 62, takes office on Jan. 1, succeeding Kofi Annan, 68, who is at the end of his second five-year term.
Addressing the packed General Assembly hall after taking the oath, Mr. Ban heaped praise on Mr. Annan, who received two standing ovations, as a man of “high ideals, noble aspirations and bold initiatives.”
But in a subsequent news conference, he distanced himself from Mr. Annan’s plea Monday that the United States return to a more multilateral foreign policy grounded in respect for international law.
“That, I think, was his own personal assessment and insight, which he gained during his tenure,” he said.
Mr. Ban, who had strong United States backing, acknowledged that the relationship between the United Nations and the United States had become strained.
“But even in such a case,” he said, “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.”
Mr. Ban was emphatic in answering questions about the campaign in Iran to cast doubt on the Holocaust and about statements by Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that Israel should be wiped off the map.
He said denying the Holocaust was “not acceptable,” as was urging the elimination of a nation or people.
He most certainly sounds genuine, and much like we should have been hearing from Kofi Annan. Granted, Mr. Annan criticized Iran for its laughable Holocaust conference, and Ahmadinejad's continued calls to remove Israel from the face of the planet. But Mr. anna's legacy at the United Nations is what tarnished him. With Ban-Ki-moon, we have a new leader there who is pledging to restore American faith in an institution that long ago seemingly lost its conscience.
What do we know about him? Not much. If we are to go off of his record as a diplomat, he has accomplished a few things, and has held key positions for the United Nations in the past. The biggest question mark hanging over him is whether or not he will be the typical United Nations diplomat, or will he be a new kid; the sort that will not give credence to tyrants, dictators, and thieves.
Indeed, Iran and Syria will be among his first tests, along with the situation in Darfur. He will also have the ongoing, and seemingly unstoppable, sex scandals that continue to plague the UN peacekeeping missions. I do believe he wants to restore the name of the United Nations, and its integrity, but it will not be an easy task. The United Nations has been a den of corruption for many years, and it will not be as easy at it sounds. And we agree; we hope this is not a 'mission impossible' situation either.
He has clearly gotten off on the right foot, and hopefully he can continue in his tenure as a solid and effective secretary general for the United Nations. Lord knows the change will do that organization good.
Marcie
The New York Times reported on the new, incoming Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon:
Ban Ki-moon of South Korea was sworn in Thursday as the next secretary general of the United Nations, and he pledged to rebuild faith in an organization that has been tarnished by scandal and riven by disputes between rich and poor nations.
“You could say that I am a man on a mission, and my mission could be dubbed ‘Operation Restore Trust’: trust in the organization, and trust between member states and the Secretariat,” he said.
He added, “I hope this mission is not ‘Mission: Impossible.’ ”
Mr. Ban, 62, takes office on Jan. 1, succeeding Kofi Annan, 68, who is at the end of his second five-year term.
Addressing the packed General Assembly hall after taking the oath, Mr. Ban heaped praise on Mr. Annan, who received two standing ovations, as a man of “high ideals, noble aspirations and bold initiatives.”
But in a subsequent news conference, he distanced himself from Mr. Annan’s plea Monday that the United States return to a more multilateral foreign policy grounded in respect for international law.
“That, I think, was his own personal assessment and insight, which he gained during his tenure,” he said.
Mr. Ban, who had strong United States backing, acknowledged that the relationship between the United Nations and the United States had become strained.
“But even in such a case,” he said, “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.”
Mr. Ban was emphatic in answering questions about the campaign in Iran to cast doubt on the Holocaust and about statements by Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that Israel should be wiped off the map.
He said denying the Holocaust was “not acceptable,” as was urging the elimination of a nation or people.
He most certainly sounds genuine, and much like we should have been hearing from Kofi Annan. Granted, Mr. Annan criticized Iran for its laughable Holocaust conference, and Ahmadinejad's continued calls to remove Israel from the face of the planet. But Mr. anna's legacy at the United Nations is what tarnished him. With Ban-Ki-moon, we have a new leader there who is pledging to restore American faith in an institution that long ago seemingly lost its conscience.
What do we know about him? Not much. If we are to go off of his record as a diplomat, he has accomplished a few things, and has held key positions for the United Nations in the past. The biggest question mark hanging over him is whether or not he will be the typical United Nations diplomat, or will he be a new kid; the sort that will not give credence to tyrants, dictators, and thieves.
Indeed, Iran and Syria will be among his first tests, along with the situation in Darfur. He will also have the ongoing, and seemingly unstoppable, sex scandals that continue to plague the UN peacekeeping missions. I do believe he wants to restore the name of the United Nations, and its integrity, but it will not be an easy task. The United Nations has been a den of corruption for many years, and it will not be as easy at it sounds. And we agree; we hope this is not a 'mission impossible' situation either.
He has clearly gotten off on the right foot, and hopefully he can continue in his tenure as a solid and effective secretary general for the United Nations. Lord knows the change will do that organization good.
Marcie
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 2:39 PM
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