UN chief presents upbeat world picture
Blogged by: Peter Apps
With worsening refugee numbers and seemingly intractable crises from Iraq to Darfur and Lebanon to Sri Lanka, it would be easy to conclude the world was falling apart.
Not so, says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. In a relatively upbeat and chatty editorial for South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper, he says the world is shifting in the U.N.'s favour.
He sees a new global enthusiasm for a multilateral approach through the U.N., citing a survey that showed three quarters of people - even in the United States - favouring a stronger role for the world body.
And pointing to at least partial success in persuading Sudan to accept at least some U.N. peacekeepers, the Korean diplomat - sometimes accused of being an exceptionally dull and uncharismatic bureaucrat - says he believes his quiet diplomacy and relationship building is yielding results.
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3 responses to “UN chief presents upbeat world picture”
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Peter Apps covered business, politics, disaster, disease, agriculture and occasional crime stories for Reuters in southern Africa before being reposted to Sri Lanka just in time for a new outbreak of civil war. A minibus crash on assignment in September 2006 broke his neck and left him quadriplegic. Nine months to the day after the crash, he was released from hospital in a wheelchair and returned to work for AlertNet in London, scheming his return to field reporting.
24 Jun 2007 10:32:12 GMT
It's good to be optomistic, but Santa Claus and Mary Poppins are no longer with us. it's going to take more than PMA to straighten out the world's humanitarian disasters. Africa, in particular, forgive the pun, but it's like dumping relief efforts into a black hole !
24 Jun 2007 22:46:06 GMT
Surely United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is aware of the global feeling that the UN is fastly becoming USA/Mr Bush offensive weapon against whoever is not in accord with USA/Mr Bush. The concern of the international ommunity is to free the UN from USA/Mr Bush control.The credibilty of the UN is disappearing among the peace loving people globaly. Ban Ki-Moon should join hand with peace loving nations,individuals and organisation to safe the UN from Mr Bush. Certainly Bush policies significantly contributed to on-going wars in many nations today. The good news is that Mr Bush will not be in power for ever,his days are numbered.The USA should never allow another Mr Bush in the White house. White house should remain a symbol of peace for American , UN and humanity
28 Jun 2007 08:01:13 GMT
I dont think the new sec general has anything special to offer save depend on the USA for directions.he doesnt have the personality for the job.I would have preferred Bill Clinton!