New UN Chief vows high ethical standards

Thalif DEEN

UNITED NATIONS: The incoming UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who took his oath of office before the 192-member General Assembly on Thursday, vowed to set "the highest ethical standards" in a world body which has come under fire for mismanagement, waste and malfeasance.

"The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets - but also one of its most vulnerable," the 62-year-old former South Korean Foreign Minister told delegates.

He said one of his core tasks would be to "breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into the sometimes weary (UN) Secretariat."

Ban pointed out that the UN Charter calls on staff to uphold the highest levels of efficiency, competence and integrity, "and I will seek to ensure to build a solid reputation for living up to that standard."

Annan expressed similar sentiments early this year when he told reporters that a key ingredient of any successful organisation is "an ethical and accountable culture pervading its staff, from top to bottom."

But unfortunately, Annan admitted, "in recent years it has become clear that we have too often fallen short of these high standards."

Conveying a personal note, Ban told the General Assembly: "I assure you that I will lead you by example."

Last month, the outgoing Under-Secretary-General for Management Chris Burnham told reporters that Ban had pledged to sign a financial disclosure form - and also go public with it.

Traditionally, senior U.N. officials who have disclosed their financial assets have not gone public with their declarations.

"I think this is a new era for the United Nations," said Burnham, a former U.S. State Department official, who left the world body to join the private sector.

Burnham said the U.S. government, and dozens of governments throughout the world, including South Korea, have made it mandatory that all civil servants go public with their financial assets.

Ban said that in setting an example in ethical behaviour, "I will work to enhance morale, professionalism and accountability among staff members, which in turn will help us serve member States better, and restore trust in the organisation."

Ban takes over an organisation in which some of the high-level Secretariat jobs have been customarily doled out to nationals of the five big powers: the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.

This practice has continued despite a General Assembly resolution which says that no country should hold a monopoly of any senior job in the United Nations.

The resolution also said that no high-ranking job should successively go to the national of the same country. But both guidelines in staff appointments have been continuously violated by successive secretaries-general in the 62-year history of the world body.

Ban said he is still in the process of reviewing all contracts of senior officials - mostly under-secretaries-general and assistant secretaries-general.

"All decisions on senior appointments will be made early next year," he said, and most of the existing contracts are expected to expire at the end of February.

"In making senior appointments, I will give primary consideration to individual merit, with due regard to gender balance and geographical distribution," he pledged.

For the post of deputy secretary-general, the second highest-ranking job in the world body, Ban said he is looking at several names with a preference for women candidates.

"I will make a choice in due course with close consultation with member states," he said.

The U.N.'s first deputy secretary-general, appointed more than six years ago, was Louise Frechette of Canada. But she was succeeded by Mark Malloch Brown of Britain.

In his statement before the General Assembly, Ban also paid tribute to Annan for his "lifelong devotion to the international civil service." "It is an honour to follow in your revered footsteps," Ban told Annan. "You have led the organisation through challenging times, and ushered it firmly into the 21st century."

He told Annan: "You have given the United Nations new relevance to the people's lives. And you have been exceptionally generous to me with your wisdom and guidance, as I prepare to build on your legacy."

Ban will formally assume duties as the new secretary-general on Jan. 1, one day after Annan completes his two-term, 10-year tenure.

Meanwhile, Annan will be honoured by the Rome-based global news agency, Inter Press Service (IPS), which will bestow its annual "International Achievement Award 2006" on the outgoing secretary-general at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the United Nations next Tuesday.

IPS Director-General Mario Lubetkin said the Board of Directors had decided last July to give its 2006 award to Annan for his lasting contributions to peace, security, development, gender empowerment and human rights.

He said IPS, a 42-year-old news agency which has promoted the cause of developing nations, also recognises the commitment by Annan to help the world's poorer nations in their fight to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and battle environmental degradation - as envisaged in the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Past recipients of the IPS award, which was established in 1985, include Gracha Machel, former First Lady of South Africa (1998); Danielle Mitterrand, former First Lady of France (1991); Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former U.N. Secretary-General (1996); Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland (1994) and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (2004).

Welcoming the new secretary-general, Annan told delegates: "It falls to my successor to carry forward the U.N.'s valuable mission. From the contacts I have had with him, I already know you have chosen well. Our organisation will be in safe hands."

- (IPS)