In the News
UN Food Agency Picks Brazil’s Graziano da Silva as Head to Replace Diouf - June 26
In the NewsJune 26, 2011
The United Nations’ food agency picked Brazil’s Jose Graziano da Silva as its director general, the first new leader in almost two decades as the world faces near-record food prices that are driving millions into poverty.
Graziano da Silva, 61, former Brazilian minister of food security, will take over at the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization from Jan. 1 to July 31, 2015, replacing Senegal- born Jacques Diouf after 18 years at the head of the biggest UN agency. Graziano got 92 votes against 88 for Spain’s Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube, the FAO said in an e-mailed statement.
UN Chief: Voice for the Voiceless but Rhetorically Challenged [opinion] - June 22
In the NewsJune 22, 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's re-election process is complete. No candidate emerged to challenge the 67-year old South Korean for another five-year term as the world's top diplomat. The question is whether he is good at his job and most agree he is, despite a low-profile that can work to his disadvantage.
After being approved by the 15-member U.N. Security Council last week, the 192-nation General Assembly on Tuesday, amid a slew of laudatory statements, voted by acclamation to appoint Ban for a second term, beginning in January and ending in December 2016. Members applauded loudly as Assembly President Joseph Deiss brought down his gavel. ...
Has Ban Ki-Moon Lived Up to His Goals? [opinion] - June 22
In the NewsJune 22, 2011
Ban Ki-Moon won a second term as United Nations Secretary General yesterday, affirmed by applause as he was the only candidate. Ban pitched himself as a mediator and bridge-builder, so it's not surprising that he has been a less visible, less controversial and, his critics would say, less charismatic Secretary General than his predecessor, Kofi Annan. But that's a question of style. It takes more than charm to make an organization like the UN effective. Has he succeeded? ...
Did Ban deserve re-election? [opinion] - June 22
In the NewsJune 22, 2011
In a 2006 article for the International Journal of Peace Operations, I wrote that
During the campaign, Ban was viewed by many as the least visible [of candidates for Secretary General] and offering the least objectionable views in order to not offend any governments. With Ban at the helm, we may see the United Nations return to a more traditional “intergovernmental” role, working to consolidate the “supranational” gains achieved in the last decade.
Ban has lived up to this prediction in his self-described role as “harmonizer” and “bridge-builder” on the challenges that have faced the world community in the past 4½ years. ...
Ban Ki-moon gets second term as UN chief - June 21
In the NewsJune 21, 2011
The U.N. General Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to give Ban Ki-moon a second term as secretary-general, praising him for strengthening the role and visibility of the world body in difficult circumstances.
The 192-member assembly gave the 67-year-old South Korean diplomat another five years at the helm of the U.N. by voice vote. They applauded loudly as assembly president Joseph Deiss banged his gavel and proclaimed Ban's appointment to a new term starting Jan. 1. ...
Ban Ki-moon and the indispensable UN [opinion] - June 18
In the NewsJune 18, 2011
The United Nations, which seems to be emerging as the indispensable partner in global affairs even for the United States, will be led for a second five-year term by South Koreas’s Ban Ki-moon who took over as Secretary General in 2007.
The 15-nation UN Security Council decided unanimously today to recommend him to the 192-nation UN General Assembly for confirmation through to the end of 2016. The eighth person to serve since the UN’s creation, Ban has a mixed reputation in this very challenging and controversial job. ...
Security Council Backs Ban for Second Term as UN Chief - June 17
In the NewsJune 17, 2011
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received the unanimous support of the Security Council today for a second five-year term in office.
The U.S., Britain, China, France and Russia, the council’s permanent members, joined in the adoption by acclamation of a resolution recommending that the UN General Assembly re-appoint the former South Korean foreign minister. Council members Brazil, Germany, India and South Africa also supported the measure. ...
Lagarde passed finish line before starting gun fired - June 15
In the NewsJune 15, 2011
Based on public proclamations of support, the tally kept by the excellent global memo suggests that Lagarde already has 55 per cent of the votes – already enough to be the next IMF Managing Director. She had these before the IMF even bothered to confirm the list of candidates; and well before she’ll have to submit herself to the indignity of answering questions – in private – at the IMF executive board.
How is this possible? ...
Electing the ICC's Next Prosecutor - June 13
In the NewsJune 13, 2011
The term of the ICC’s first Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, is slowly, albeit dramatically, drawing to a close. In December 2011 the members of ICC’s Assembly of State Parties will convene to choose the Court’s next Prosecutor. He or she will officially replace Moreno-Ocampo in June 2012. Every member-state of the Court will have one vote in deciding the ICC’s second prosecutor. In early February, the ICC set up a search committee to identify some potential candidates. ...
Seeking 2nd Term, Ban Speaks Behind Closed Doors, Complaints of P5 Power - June 9
In the NewsJune 9, 2011
With the full court press on at the UN for Ban Ki-moon to be given a second term as Secretary General without any other candidates or debate, Ban has met with the regional groups in lieu, it seems, of giving an open speech to the General Assembly.
An African Group member's Permanent Representative complained to Inner City Press on June 9 that “at the time we need a strong man, the big powers want a weak one.” He pointed back to Ban not filling the Special Adviser on Africa position and questioned Ban's commitment to the continent. ...
