United Nations, Dec 12: United Nations Secretary
General-designate Ban Ki-moon has identified reforming the UN
secretariat, strengthening capacity to fulfill mandates and
rebuilding trust among key players as the three key challenges
before him on taking up leadership of the world body next
month.
Laying out his agenda for the first time, Ban asked major
Asian regional group ASEAN to help him meet these challenges.
"We must continue to reform the secretariat, so as to
bolster the integrity, professionalism and morale of staff. We
must work to heal the divide and rebuild trust among the
member states, the secretariat, and major stakeholders and we
must strengthen the capacity of the UN to implement its
mandates, by better coordinating and harmonising the work of
its various parts," he added.
"I ask for ASEAN's support as I take on those
challenges," said Ban who is scheduled to take his oath of
office on Thursday in New York. "And I pledge, as a
Secretary-General from Asia, that I will bear in mind Asia's
perspectives at the United Nations."
"Your organisation is a pioneer of regional cooperation,
in one of the most dynamic parts of the world," Ban said in a
video message to the opening of the 12th summit of the
10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in
Cebu, Philippines.
"As ASEAN prepares to mark its 40th anniversary next
year, you have many achievements to celebrate-- from
initiatives for growth and prosperity to landmark treaties for
regional stability.
"The partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations,
too, has evolved over several decades. The fact that you have
now been granted observer status by the UN General Assembly
will surely help strengthen cooperation between us," Ban
added.
Ban noted that over the years, the UN has come to
appreciate the need to work with regional and other groupings
in a better structured, more efficient way.
Bureau Report