Ban Ki-moon gets second term as U.N. chief

Updated at: 0900 PST, Wednesday, June 22, 2011
NEW YORK: The U.N. General Assembly voted unanimously to give Ban Ki—moon a second term as secretary-general on Tuesday, praising him for strengthening the world body’s role and visibility in difficult circumstances.

The 192-member assembly applauded loudly as it adopted a resolution giving the 67-year-old South Korean diplomat another five years at the helm of the U.N. Assembly president Joseph Deiss banged his gavel and proclaimed Mr. Ban’s selection by acclamation to a new term starting Jan. 1.

Mr. Ban announced earlier this month that he wanted a second term. He faced no opposition and was recommended by the Security Council for the new term last Friday. All regional groups at the U.N. endorsed him, and their chairs joined in sponsoring the Assembly resolution.

Gabon’s U.N. Ambassador Nelson Messone, the current Security Council president who introduced the assembly resolution, said Mr. Ban has “remarkably and with all objectivity and independence” worked on every continent, to promote peace, justice and international security, “Sometimes, in particularly, difficult and trying circumstances.”

After the vote, the secretary-general was escorted to the podium where Mr. Deiss told him, “In a complex, difficult international environment, you have strengthened the role and the visibility of the United Nations by adopting reform measures, launching exciting, innovative initiatives, and calling faithfully and constantly for respect for human rights, the rule of law and the other values rooted in our charter.”