Ban Ki-Moon and the Race for UN Secretary-General

One of the top candidates for the U.N. Secretary-General slot opening up later this year is Ban Ki-Moon, Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He spoke at some length last week in New York at the Council on Foreign Relations about his candidacy and his vision for the future of the United Nations. The transcript is of manageable length and worth reading to get a sense of the posturing of SG candidates. Here is an excerpt:

The next secretary-general must firmly commit the organization to delivering results in the hundreds of pressing (times ?) already on his agenda. The strategic focus should be more on achieving the goals already set rather than identifying new frontiers to conquer. Indeed, for each of the three pillars of the United Nations—namely, the peace and security, development, human rights—there are pressing measures to undertake. Let me just take a few.

First, terrorism continues to be the greatest security challenge of our times. The possibility of linkage with WMDs amplifies the potential dangers many times. The United Nations can lose no time in presenting to the world a comprehensive convention against international terrorism…. I am … very much frustrated until today that this organization has not been able to present a comprehensive convention—even after our experience of this September 11th….

Second, the work of the Peacebuilding Commission should produce real value on the ground. The first cases will be pivotal for the future shape and scope of the United Nations peace-building work. All stakeholders are urged to embark upon the task with a strong sense of mission and dedication.

Third, the United Nations’ work in peacekeeping and complex emergencies should be more firmly grounded in humanitarian principles. Human sufferings should be alleviated and human dignity should be safeguarded at all times. The moral authority of the United Nations depends on its ability to help people most in need, and it must do so with the highest ethical standards and professionalism. On the immediate case in question, it is a humanitarian crisis in Darfur. There the enormity of human tragedy demands effective and expeditious U.N. intervention. Before coming to New York yesterday, I went toRwanda, the site of an atrocious genocide 12 years ago. I was horrified and very saddened. It was a solemn reminder of what we, the international organization of the United Nations, the international community, failed to do for Africa, for humanity. Greater political will must be mobilized to ensure that the tragic failure to protect innocent people should not happen again….

Fourth, one of the most important thing is the Millennium Development Goals. This MDG should be advanced. When the target year of 2015 arrives, I hope that the United Nations will be able to credibly claim that the mission is accomplished on the most heralded goals it has promised for the world….

Fifth, the new Human Rights Council must meet the heightened expectations of the international community. The inaugural members of the Council, including the Republic of Korea, should work with the entire membership of the United Nations to chart the path ahead. They are urged to do so with a renewed commitment toward greater respect for human dignity and enlargement of freedom.

Ban also discusses at some length the need for further reform of the U.N. and greater authority for the Secretary-General. There is nothing dramatic in his suggestions for reform, but that is of course no surprise given his candidacy.