Ban calls for international cooperation to resolve global problems

NEW YORK, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The following are excerpts from a Yonhap News
Agency interview with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Q: You will pass the midpoint of your first term at the end of this month. How do
you feel?
A: I have done my best for the past two and a half years. Some evaluate that I am
the hardest-working U.N. secretary-general in history. It is the first time in
the 63-year history of the U.N. that the world faces so many crises
simultaneously. The biggest economic crisis in a century erupted, adding to
climate change, food shortage and an energy crisis. The world faces a new crisis
from a new influenza, apart from the decades-old problems of disease and poverty.
People are looking solely to the U.N. because of these global problems, but the
international community's response is relatively slow and the results are slow.
That naturally leads to assessments of the U.N. and myself, as the person in
charge of the organization. I humbly accept any evaluation of me. But those
(global) problems can't be solved by one person. All the member states need to
cooperate.

Q: There are some negative views about your leadership at the U.N.
A: The U.N. is a huge organization, composed of staff from 192 countries. It is
different from the homogeneous government of a country. That is the reason behind
the criticism that the U.N. is opaque and inefficient. I have pushed for reform
passionately for the past two and a half years. There will be resistance in the
process. I think it is a temporary pain. More specifically, senior U.N. officials
now sign contracts on the basis of annual performance reviews. This is being done
for first time in six decades. The information is made public on the Web site.
They are also required to disclose their financial assets. This is something none
of my predecessors has done. It is a way to enhance the U.N.'s transparency. U.N.
member states support my efforts to change the culture of the organization. But
there is still a long way to go.

Q: A recent article in "Foreign Policy" said you have been trotting the globe
collecting honorary degrees instead of showing global leadership.
A: My immediate predecessor Kofi Annan received more than 50 honorary doctorates.
I have received one in Asia, the U.S., Europe and South Korea. There have been
many offers, but I rejected them.

Q: Critics say you have been too low-profile as U.N. secretary-general, that you
only issue easily forgettable statements. Do you agree?
A: The criticism overlooks the characteristics of the U.N., which is not a
government. Countries involved in regional conflicts have very different
backgrounds and understandings. There are many cases in which the U.N. can't
intervene. But the general thinking is that the U.N. can. I make statements that
are as strong as possible on issues that have to do with universal values,
including human rights and sovereignty. Regional conflicts are difficult because
the positions of relevant nations have to be taken into consideration.
It is true that it is more difficult to intervene when the P-5 (the five
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council) are involved. Critics say I did
not handle the Sri Lankan issue properly, but I actually issued considerably
strong statements 22 times. Some media reports said I kept my head low on the
Gaza issue. It is not true. As you know, I strongly called for Israel to declare
a unilateral ceasefire, which was accepted and stopped the gunfire. People write
such articles because the Gaza issue has not been completely resolved yet.
I also visited Myanmar when it was hit by a cyclone (in May last year). I
persuaded the leaders of the military junta to accept food aid, thus saving the
lives of half a million people. Even North Korea criticized me. North Korea
issued a statement condemning my comments against its nuclear program and it
lodged formal complaints through its ambassador to the U.N. and diplomatic
documents. I responded by making clear that I expressed my position over North
Korea's threat to international security as the U.N. secretary general, not a
South Korean.

Q: Some say Westerners lack an understanding of Asian-style leadership, and that
recent criticism of your performance is an attempt to block your re-election.
A: I am the second Asian to serve as the U.N. secretary general following U Thant
36 years ago. There was no "Asia Rising" at the time. Furthermore, U Thant was
educated in the West. This is the first time that the U.N. has a leader with
genuine Asian values. I have not insisted on Asian ways. But there is an
atmosphere of respect for Asian values. I think there is a gap within that.
(On the re-election issue) It's difficult for me to address it personally. It is
a matter to be decided by member states. It is different from a politician
deciding to run in an election. It is not a matter I can talk about.

Q: What were the most rewarding and discouraging moments for you?
A: An international conference on climate change was held in Bali in December
2007. Upon receiving reports that negotiations almost ruptured, I rushed there
and appealed, and I persuaded the global powers. As a result, a road map was
produced and climate change has become a top global agenda.
I was angry rather than discouraged when I stood in front of a burning U.N.
building (in Gaza early this year) and told the world that something like this
should never happen again.

Q: North Korea continues to ignore the high-toned U.N. Security Council
resolution against its nuclear test. Questions may arise again about the
effectiveness of the Security Council.
A: It is a matter of great concern that North Korea is taking a defiant attitude
despite the adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution. The U.N. is making
its own efforts (to help break the deadlock) as North Korea keeps the door to
dialogue closed. But it is likely to take some time. The inter-Korean issue
should be handled objectively with patience and persistence.
(END)