열린장관실

Speech at Luncheon
hosted by the UN Association of ROK

on the 61st anniversary of UN Day

24 October 2006, Seoul

BAN Ki-Moon

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ROK

8th Secretary-General of the United Nations

President Kim Seung-youn, Excellencies, esteemed members of the UN Association of the Republic of Korea, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great honor and pleasure to address you today, the 61st anniversary of the United Nations.  This year, the day has a very special meaning, for myself, for everyone here, indeed for all Koreans and our friends.  

Thanks to your abiding support and encouragement throughout the past months of quiet campaigning, I was appointed by the UN General Assembly to become the 8th Secretary-General of the global organization.  I must admit that I am still overwhelmed, as I try to come to terms with the full implications of the appointment and start preparing to assume the post.   

In hindsight, there were many moments of uncertainty and tentativeness, as I tried to promote my candidacy through a process that is largely unstructured but highly charged.  But the unsparing encouragement and thoughtful advice of many here kept me going.  For this, I offer my heartfelt thanks.

The success of the campaign is a testament to Korea's enhanced profile and diplomatic prowess on the global stage.  The general consensus that this was Asia's turn to take the top job at the UN provided the larger context.  I am deeply grateful to the Asian countries and the general membership for this.  But the definitive element, I believe, was what I brought to the campaign as a public servant of Korea, a country with uniquely close ties to the United Nations and uniquely rich experiences in safeguarding peace, promoting development, and protecting human rights.  So the appointment should be seen as an accomplishment that all Koreans had a share in and can be proud of.  Needless to say, it is a tremendous honor for me personally as well.  

Thus, as I took the podium in the General Assembly hall to make my acceptance speech, I felt boundless gratitude for my country and people who sent me there, as well as an enormous sense of responsibility for the tasks that lie ahead.  And I determined to return the blessing with the performance and conduct of a Secretary-General that wins the approval of the whole international community. 

Distinguished guests,

Throughout the campaign,  I have tried to meet with as many member states and other stakeholders in the UN as possible.  This helped to address the call for greater transparency in the Secretary-General selection process, which had taken on a greater relevance in this year of UN reform.  It also enabled me to grasp the wide spectrum of expectations and aspirations that are out there for the UN. 

I am keenly aware of the daunting challenges the UN must address.  During the transition period between now and my inauguration on January 1st next year, I will try to elaborate a set of priority tasks that the UN under my leadership will try to undertake to meet those challenges.  For now, I can tell you that the work will be guided by the following thoughts: first on the UN itself; and second, on the substantive areas of the UN's work. 

First, on the UN itself, rebuilding trust must be a top priority.  While the globalizing world has put forth an increasing number of global problems that only the UN can effectively tackle, the organization itself has been hampered by a divisiveness that has deepened and hardened over the years.  Indeed, many deplore that the UN is suffering from a "crisis of confidence", between Member States, between the membership and the Secretariat, and over the effectiveness of the system to deliver on its promises. 

UN action is premised on the political will of Member States, and political will cannot be forged in an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion.  As Secretary-General, I will leave no stone unturned in my endeavor to dispel the bitter atmosphere and shore up the trust and confidence among all stakeholders.  This will begin with winning the trust of all in myself and my leadership as Secretary-General.  I don't expect any shortcuts.  With hard work and sincere reaching out for genuine dialogue, I will lead by example for harmony and consensus.    

Furthermore, I will stay the course with on-going UN reform.  Indeed, reform and innovation should be incorporated into the daily operation of the UN if the system is to keep abreast of the fast changing world of the 21st century.     A comprehensive reform drive has been underway for many years, affecting the structure of inter-governmental consultations, institutional arrangements, work programs, and Secretariat management. 

There have been some meaningful results so far, but more must be accomplished.  In particular, Secretariat management reform must be vigorously pursued.  Accountability must be enhanced through strengthened internal and external oversight, in particular over the decisions and actions of senior managers.  Greater transparency and accountability is also required for the expanding system of UN procurement.  Staff morale needs to be boosted through the rewarding of hard work and excellence and effective censuring of bad behavior.  This is key to the revitalization of the Organization.  Drawing upon Korea's collective experiences in introducing innovative reforms into every sector of our government during the past three years, I am determined to make the UN Secretariat a first-class organization for the 21st century under my leadership.

Beyond Secretariat management, the reform must also bring about better coherence and coordination among the myriad entities in the UN.  The system is too overstretched.  On the ground, it is frequently the case that different agencies and offices are doing the same work with little coordination among themselves.  A high-level panel of political leaders has just come out with a report with recommendations in this regard.  They may not be as ambitious as some had hoped.  But I do believe that there is room for some realistic steps to reduce overlap and to streamline work for greater efficiency, better use of resources, and better delivery of services to the people who need the UN the most.

Now, on the substantive areas of work for the UN, let me briefly highlight the main issues along the three pillars on which the work of the UN is built:  peace and security, development, and human rights.   

On peace and security, the situation seems precarious indeed.  No one would feel this more keenly than those of us on the Korean peninsula these day.  On the very day the Security Council adopted its resolution recommending me to the General Assembly as the next Secretary-General, North Korea went against the concerted call of the international community and conducted a nuclear test. 

The Security Council promptly adopted by consensus resolution 1718, demanding that North Korea refrain from further provocation, abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and return promptly to the NPT and IAEA safeguards as well as to the Six Party Talks without precondition.  The resolution also binds Member States to economic sanctions in relation to North Korea's WMD and missiles programs. 

My government is wholly supportive of the resolution and committed to its faithful implementation.  We stand firmly behind the Security Council's strong message to North Korea, and we are  reviewing our policies to bring them closer in line with resolution 1718.  In my meetings with Secretary Rice of the United States and Minister Aso of Japan last week, we reaffirmed our joint stance of no tolerance for North Korean nuclear weapons.  We also pledged to keep up the close coordination in finding a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue towards greater stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

The Iranian nuclear issue is another threat to the global non-proliferation regime.  Tehran has so far not responded to the Security Council demand that it suspend all enrichment-related activities, and the road to a peaceful resolution on this issue seems tortuous.  International terrorism has also eluded our efforts to come up with a comprehensive treaty to fight it.  Meanwhile, the security and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the flare-ups in the Middle East, and conflicts in Africa also call for concerted responses. 

As Secretary-General, I will fully exercise the authority invested in my office by the Charter and the mandates given by Member States to strengthen international peace and security and to advance the UN's role in protecting the most vulnerable members of humanity.  I will put to use the insights that I have gained at the diplomatic forefront of the Republic of Korea, a divided country with complex security issues, to bear upon the UN's interventions in this area.  In particular, in close consultation with Member States, I intend to seek an active role for the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.  

In the area of development, I take fully on board the aspirations of the developing world.  Indeed, throughout my consultations with Member States over the past months, I could see that the dominant concern on the minds of a great majority was development and the need for greater international cooperation in the area.  In this regard, first and foremost, we must renew our political will and muster the needed resources to obtain the Millennium Development Goals by the target year of 2015.  The least developed countries, in particular, call for further innovative thinking on development financing.  The primary responsibility for development rests with the individual governments, and good governance is key to sustained economic growth and social progress. International cooperation is essential as well.  As Secretary-General, I will urge donor states to honor their pledges for support and actively encourage the forging of partnerships for effective implementation of projects on the ground. 

In the area of human rights, 2006 will be recorded as a pivotal year.  The new Human Rights Council must be nurtured into the leading force for the furtherance of human rights around the world, rather than falling victim to the same kind of divisiveness that had discredited its predecessor.  The work of the first few sessions of the Council gives me hope as well as concern. 

As Secretary-General, I will actively call upon the Council members and others to see the wisdom of compromise, of giving in on small gains for the larger good, and to keep alive the six decades of progress in human rights that the United Nations has spearheaded.  I will also fully support the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in supporting the Council and working for the universal acceptance and implementation of the rich body of global human rights norms that we already have.      

In discharging my duties in all of these areas of work, I intend to make the most of the wide network of friends and colleagues I have forged during the past four decades.  I don't pretend to have all the answers to all the questions and challenges for the UN in its 7th decade.  But I am a good listener, and I will be fully open to suggestions for better ideas and better ways to get things done.  And fully in line with the national character and values of my home country, I will do so with humility, honesty and our trade-mark "can do" spirit. 

Distinguished guests,

Every year, we have marked this day by recounting what the UN has meant for Korea and Koreans.  Indeed, we are a prime beneficiary of the UN.  We would not be what we are today -- a thriving market economy and a vibrant democracy committed to human rights -- were it not for the UN.  Let us now turn the table around.  This year, as I humbly heed your call to service for causes beyond our immediate interests, let us think of what Korea means to the UN, and what Koreans can do for the UN. 

The world is watching.  Korea is looked upon to play bigger roles and make greater contributions in world affairs. Koreans are expected to provide talent and service in the expanding array of work for the good of humanity.  We have already made many inroads to expand our presence on the global stage.  The present and future generations should do even better.  But the opportunities will not be grasped unless we are fully prepared for them.  We must strive to bring ourselves up to the highest levels of intellectual attainment and sensibility.  We must act and think as global citizens, always gauging our own behaviors against global standards. In particular, we must bring our overseas assistance, both for development and for humanitarian activities, to a level that befits our share of the global economy and meets internationally established goals.

The meaning of my taking the helm at the United Nations can be seen in many ways.  If it strengthens the sense of duty and service to humanity in the minds and hearts of our everyday citizens, if it inspires the growing generations to make their marks on the global stage, my tenure will already have served a valuable cause.     

Meanwhile, as Secretary-General I will be bound to impartiality.  I will have to work constantly to see beyond my own prejudices, lest they distort my judgement.  However, as a Secretary-General working hard to strengthen the UN and its service for humanity, there will be no doubt that I owe all that I am to my country and people.  

Thank you for your kind attention.  /end/