The next United Nations secretary-general promised earnest efforts to reform the world body and bring peace to the Korean peninsula in a farewell speech Friday to South Korea’s parliament. Ban Ki-Moon, whose resignation as Seoul’s foreign minister takes effect Friday, also confessed he feels “as if I were standing alone in front of a mountain of unsolved issues.” The 62-year-career diplomat takes office on January 1, succeeding Kofi Annan. “The reform of the UN, which has been put off for the past 60 years, must be carried out in earnest,” he told legislators, stressing a major theme of his campaign for the UN’s top post. “Regional conflicts that have been spreading around the globe following the end of the Cold War must be brought to an end. Threats from terrorism must also be dealt with...” he added. “I will take the utmost advantage of my status as the UN secretary-general to help resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and settle peace on the Korea peninsula.” | Ban last month vowed to end a “crisis of confidence” and heal divisions hampering the UN’s work. |
He said rebuilding trust in the world body must be a top priority. AnnanÂ’s term was marked by bitter disputes over the US-led invasion of Iraq, and by the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal allegedly involving a senior UN official. Ban has called for internal UN reform to enhance accountability, in particular over senior managers, and greater transparency and accountability in UN procurement. The next secretary-general has said he will appoint a special UN envoy on North Korea when he takes over.