Our World

New UN Secretary General Elected

Today, Friday the 13th, the general assembly of the United Nations formally elected, unanimously, the next secretary general. Mr Annan, the current secretary general, will step down on December 31, 2006, when his second 5 year term ends. The newly elected secretary general is a man named Mr. Ban Ki-moon, from South Korea, who will start his term on January 1st, 2007, is the first Asian to be secretary general for the United Nations since Thant from Burma, whose term ended in 1971.
I think Mr Ki-moon will be a good change for the UN. Mr Annan was a good man, but in the past ten years, the United Nations has not been very influential or effective. Sanctions and resolutions made by the group are not followed as widely as they once were. A change in leadership creates a chance to solve this growing problem.
Mr Ki-moon recognizing the world's need for a strong United Nations; "'The UN is needed now more than ever before,' Mr Ki-moon said" (BBC news).
Mr Ki-moon outlined priorities that he has for his term, and I think he touches very important issues. He included poverty, HIV/AIDS, human rights, reforms, and combating terrorism in his list of priorities.
Two of these priorities will conincide with the US' foreign policy especially well. Combating terrorism is one key area. A secretary general who supports the United States' war on terrorism will benefit our cause immensely. Also, reforms within the UN are very, very necessary. In order to get the UN back on its feet and influential again, a reform of the corrupt UN is needed.
Overall, I believe that a change in the leadership of the UN, especially with Mr Ki-moon, will be very helpful for the global community.
read the article here

posted by Anonymous @ 10/13/2006 09:49:00 PM