USA / SOUTH KOREA: UN Security Council nominates South Korean Ambassador Ban Ki-Moon for the post of Secretary-General; Ban vows strong measures against North Korea for conducting a nuclear test

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was formally nominated as U.N. Secretary-General on Monday (October 9), only hours after North Korea defied the world body by announcing a nuclear test. Ban told reporters in Seoul that North Korea's test was a threat to peace and stability in Korea and in Northeast Asia. "I stand here with a very heavy heart. Despite the concerted warning from the international community, North Korea has gone ahead with a nuclear test," he said during a news conference at the Foreign Ministry's headquarters. Ban vowed to tackle the North Korean nuclear crisis as Secretary-General. "There will be times when the role of the Secretary-General will be needed. In such instances, I will closely consult with related countries and will carry out the rights and authority of a Secretary-General and initiatives within the framework of my duties," he added. Shortly after nominating Ban, the 15 Security Council ambassadors went into a closed session on North Korea to see what action could be take after Pyongyang's announcement of a successful nuclear test. The council on Friday (October 6) had urged North Korea to not to carry out a test, warning of unspecified consequences if it did. Ban also said as Foreign Minister, South Korea would take strong measures against North Korea. "Furthermore, in close co-operation and consultation with the countries concerned and the international community, we will seek firm and strong measures so as to get North Korea to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and related programmes," he said. The U.N. Security Council voted by acclamation, thereby effectively anointing Ban as successor to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose 10 years in office expire on Dec. 31, said Japan's U.N. Ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, this month's council president. Six other candidates for the job had withdrawn, leaving members to vote only for Ban. The 192-member U.N. General Assembly must give final approval to Ban's nomination, which usually follows within a week or two. That vote is expected to be positive. Some diplomats, including Oshima, have speculated that North Korea's announcement on October 3 of plans to carry out the underground nuclear test was timed, in part, to coincide with Ban's candidacy in an effort to get world attention. Ban, 62, would be the eighth Secretary-General in the world body's 60-year history. He will inherit a bureaucracy of 9,000 staff, a $5 billion budget and more than 90,000 peacekeepers in 18 operations around the globe that cost another $5 billion. France's ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere praised Ban's efforts in improving the situation in developing countries. De la Sabliere said Ban had all the qualifications for this job. The UK's Jones Parry also emphasised Britain's support for the candidate. Parry said Ban has very impressive credentials and will bring to the job his vast and long diplomatic experience. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton immediately emphasised the need for UN management reform. Annan, in his own statement, welcomed the nomination. He said he had the "highest respect" for Ban and would do "everything possible to ensure a smooth transition," a spokesman said. The low-keyed Ban will be a contrast to Annan, a Ghanaian who in his first five years won a Nobel Peace Prize and was sometimes dubbed a diplomatic rock star, before financial scandals took over headlines in the past few years.

ITN Source | October 10, 2006

Tags:. .underground. .cooperation. .budget. .approval. .urged