ID :
190231
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 01:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/190231
The shortlink copeid
(UN reelection) Ban reelected as U.N. chief for bridge-building role
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; CHANGES headline)
NEW YORK (Yonhap) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was unanimously reelected to a second term on Tuesday, apparently in recognition of his tireless efforts to reform the 192-member organization and mediate peaceful solutions to conflicts in several parts of the world.
In an widely expected move, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution by the 15-member Security Council granting Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, another five years in office.
Ban's four and a half years as the leader of the bulky agency, which some describe as "the most impossible job," has been tumultuous as he has pushed for internal reform and dealt with turmoil in Africa and the Middle East.
North Korea carried out nuclear and long-range missile tests in 2009, sparking diplomatic wrestling among the U.S., China and other regional powers on the Security Council.
But the globe-trotting Ban, gentle but decisive, has endeavored to play a role as "bridge builder," according to his aides. He seems to have been at every major disaster scene or conflict zone around the world.
U.N. officials characterize Ban's leadership style as people-oriented, saying he respects those with different opinions.
In his early months, Ban, the first Asian U.N. chief in four decades, faced a barrage of criticism. In addition to an internal backlash against his reform drive, western media criticized him for being too quiet and uncharismatic. Some developing countries argued that Ban was heavily aligned with Washington.
"Until recently, we expected Secretary-General Ban's reelection would not that be smooth," a U.N. diplomat said.
Egypt-born Boutrous Boutrous Ghali is the only U.N. secretary-general to lose reelection, mainly due to a rift with the U.S. over the Bosnia issue in the early 1990s.
A significant turnaround in the assessment of Ban's leadership came with his handling of a recent civil war in Cote d'Ivoire, observers say.
Ban strongly demanded President Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to accept his defeat, step down, while seeking political and military resolutions simultaneously through his special representative in the nation, Choi Young-jin. Gbagbo finally bowed to pressure after four months of defiance.
Ban has also aggressively voiced support for civil protests against dictatorships in North Africa and the Middle East.
"Closely looking at Secretary-General Ban, I think he has exerted both instantaneous reactionary force like an splinter and stamina like a marathoner," said Kim Won-soo, special adviser to Ban.
NEW YORK (Yonhap) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was unanimously reelected to a second term on Tuesday, apparently in recognition of his tireless efforts to reform the 192-member organization and mediate peaceful solutions to conflicts in several parts of the world.
In an widely expected move, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution by the 15-member Security Council granting Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, another five years in office.
Ban's four and a half years as the leader of the bulky agency, which some describe as "the most impossible job," has been tumultuous as he has pushed for internal reform and dealt with turmoil in Africa and the Middle East.
North Korea carried out nuclear and long-range missile tests in 2009, sparking diplomatic wrestling among the U.S., China and other regional powers on the Security Council.
But the globe-trotting Ban, gentle but decisive, has endeavored to play a role as "bridge builder," according to his aides. He seems to have been at every major disaster scene or conflict zone around the world.
U.N. officials characterize Ban's leadership style as people-oriented, saying he respects those with different opinions.
In his early months, Ban, the first Asian U.N. chief in four decades, faced a barrage of criticism. In addition to an internal backlash against his reform drive, western media criticized him for being too quiet and uncharismatic. Some developing countries argued that Ban was heavily aligned with Washington.
"Until recently, we expected Secretary-General Ban's reelection would not that be smooth," a U.N. diplomat said.
Egypt-born Boutrous Boutrous Ghali is the only U.N. secretary-general to lose reelection, mainly due to a rift with the U.S. over the Bosnia issue in the early 1990s.
A significant turnaround in the assessment of Ban's leadership came with his handling of a recent civil war in Cote d'Ivoire, observers say.
Ban strongly demanded President Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to accept his defeat, step down, while seeking political and military resolutions simultaneously through his special representative in the nation, Choi Young-jin. Gbagbo finally bowed to pressure after four months of defiance.
Ban has also aggressively voiced support for civil protests against dictatorships in North Africa and the Middle East.
"Closely looking at Secretary-General Ban, I think he has exerted both instantaneous reactionary force like an splinter and stamina like a marathoner," said Kim Won-soo, special adviser to Ban.
