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Ban Ki-moon sworn in at UN, pledges to 'restore trust' (Roundup)

By Chris Cermak Dec 14, 2006, 19:27 GMT

New York - South Korea's Ban Ki-moon was sworn in as the eighth secretary general of the United Nations Thursday, promising to continue reforming an organization he suggested had been badly damaged by corruption and ethical questions in its recent past. Ban Ki-moon, of South Korea, speaks after receiving the oath of office during a ceremony where Ki-moon was sworn in as Secretary General of the United Nations in the General Assembly hall at U.N. Headquarters in New York, New York on Thursday 14 December 2006. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Ban Ki-moon, of South Korea, speaks after receiving the oath of office during a ceremony where Ki-moon was sworn in as Secretary General of the United Nations in the General Assembly hall at U.N. Headquarters in New York, New York on Thursday 14 December 2006. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERTBan vowed to 'restore trust in the organization' and promote the 'highest ethical standards,' in the wake of corruption scandals that tarnished the last few years of outgoing Kofi Annan's 10-year tenure. 'The good name of the UN is one of its most valuable assets,' Ban said after taking the oath of office before the UN General Assembly. 'I assure you I will lead you by example.' Annan, 68, received two standing ovations from the assembly for leading the UN through a tumultuous reform process, and was praised for his 'tireless' diplomatic efforts to help resolve many diplomatic and military conflicts around the world. The outgoing secretary general thanked the UN's 192 members for their support over the years, which he said 'often made the difference between an impossible job and an exhilarating one.' 'Our organization will be in safe hands,' Annan said of his successor, telling the assembly, 'I already know that you have chosen well.' Ban, 62, also praised Annan for leading the UN 'through challenging times' and promised to 'build on (Annan's) legacy.' Annan, who officially leaves office on December 31, set the UN on its most significant reform process since its founding more than 60 years ago, in part due to a damaging corruption affair surrounding the oil-for-food programme that formed the basis of sanctions against Iraq until 2003. Embarassing allegations of sexual misconduct by UN peacekeepers in Africa also highlighted the need for change. Ban offered a candid assessment of the management reform process, focusing less on the world's diplomatic and military conflicts that he will also inherit, including attempts to halt the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, and conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan's Darfur region. Ban spent 35 years serving the South Korean government, becoming foreign minister in January 2004, which he held until his appointment to the UN's top post. The secretary general-elect said he would work to restore trust in the UN as a whole, as well as between his UN secretariat and the 192 member states, which have been at odds through much of the reform process on issues including the creation of a new Human Rights Council and the separation of powers between the Security Council and the General Assembly. 'There has been much criticism over the UN's inability and inefficiencies over the past few years, though the UN has played an instrumental role' in promoting peace around the world, Ban said at a press conference after his swearing-in. 'One of my core tasks will be to breath new life and new confidence into the sometimes weary secretariat,' Ban said. A reform issue that members have long been stuck on is the expansion of the UN Security Council from its current 15 members, which Ban called 'by far the most important and sensitive issue considering the dramatic changes in international politics.' UN ambassadors praised Annan for leading the UN through a tumultuous era of reform and pledged to work with Ban, who officially takes office on January 1. Ban 'is now entrusted with all the hopes and dreams for a peaceful and prosperous world,' said Malaysian ambassador Hamidon Ali, who applauded Annan for weaving his way through the 'most difficult (job) in the world.' Annan, the first-ever African leader of the UN, originally from Ghana, was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 - the second head of the organization to receive the award. 'You always kept faith with the downtrodden and the underprivileged,' said South Africa's ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo. 'The son of African soil has served the world with honour.' Iraq's UN ambassador Hamid al-Bayati said Annan worked hard to resolve problems in the Middle East - 'one of the hotbeds of tension' during his time in office - and praised his attempts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Annan leaves after 44 years in the UN organization. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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TimFrom TexasDec 14th, 2006 - 20:24:28

Goodbye and good riddance.

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oleman@tempete.eclipse.co.ukDec 14th, 2006 - 20:50:40

It is with sadness I watch the closing days of Kofi Annan's tenure at the UN a man of great stature who refused to jump into the corrupt American pockets and agree with the Bandit Bush who wants to control the world. Mr Annam always tried to do the job of a fair and just politian one of the very few sadly in this great organisation and it was there for the whole world to see how badly he felt about not being able to restrain the unjust actions of Bush and Blair in Iraq.I only hope his sucessor will follow in his footsteps and try to promote Peace through the UN a just Peace and not that of a couple of renegade leaders such as those already mentioned who should be facing war crimes but that besides Thank you Kofi for trying to do a very difficult job in very tough conditions Thank you and enjoy your retirement.
Michael Isaac

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RADec 14th, 2006 - 21:21:02

Thank you Mr. Annan for a good job. We as Americans need to become more supportive of the world peace process. Our full participation in the UN would do wonders for our status in the world. We have gone from a being a country with a high civil and moral character to one considered to be the bully of the world.

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frederic from cincinnatiDec 14th, 2006 - 21:23:14

Maybe a fresh breeze will blow away the odors emanting fom the cesspool! No Bolton no Annon. A fresh start for an out moded ineffective

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Russ from TexasDec 14th, 2006 - 21:54:08

Mr Ban, hopefully you will come in with a big broom and sweep out the corruption fostered by Annan and his gang of political power-mongers. You'll need to keep an eye on Annan's cronies - including his son - to make sure that the corruption that has tainted the UN for the past several years is tamped out. Mr Ban, no more thuggish world-building, please!! Just keep an eye on North Korea, Iran, Syria and the United States, and make sure the funds flowing to terrorists (yes, including from the American CIA) is stopped!

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David from KansasDec 14th, 2006 - 22:03:47

The Hell with you Annan, God Bless the USA.

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Bob RDec 14th, 2006 - 22:05:08

Hopefully Mr.Ban Ki-moon is the last Seceratary

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PytKDec 15th, 2006 - 00:56:37

The legacy of Kofi Annan and his plea for future international relations is 'collective responsibility, global solidarity, the rule of law, mutual accountability, and multilateralism.' This can also be understood to be the general mission of the United Nations.

'My friends, our challenge today is not to save Western civilisation -
or Eastern, for that matter. All civilisation is at stake, and we can
save it only if all peoples join together in the task.'

To paraphrase two great people...'Be the change you would like to see in the world and curse not the darkness but be the first to light a candle...'

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What a ShamDec 15th, 2006 - 20:22:30

Annan left lying, just like he arrived. The trail of corruption is long and public. He gagged debate on the corruption while he practiced it. He was hired to gag debate about corrupt African strongmen and accomplished that goal.

Annan made the UN irrelevant. The USA should drop funding until it is fixed.

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