Speaking to an audience at the Asia Society, in an event co-sponsored by The Korea Society, Ban Ki-moon, South Korea's minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and front-runner to be the United Nations' next secretary general, laid out some thoughts on the development of multilateralism in East Asia, the North Korean nuclear impasse and the future of the United Nations.

Tuesday, September 25, 2006

On multilateralism, Ban began his remarks by noting that while the Asia-Pacific region was on the rise in terms of political and economic influence, the region's security situation is far less developed. With different cultures, different assessments of the past and different political systems, Asian nations are wary of one another and don't share a sense of common purpose. Regional cooperation needs to be increased and institutionalized. Progress has been made, Ban pointed out, as regional forums, like ASEAN+3, APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), grow in relevance. However, more action-oriented bodies are needed to assure peace and security. With this imperative, Asians should learn from Europe's post-war experience of committing itself to multinational governance through the EU and the OSCE. The prospects for an "Asian EU" are generally dismissed as overreaching and dreamy-eyed by critics, but Ban believes that significant progress can be made towards such a goal with the leadership of the U.S.

On the diplomatic impasse over North Korea's nuclear program, Ban highlighted the progress that the Six-Party Talks had made, culminating in the September 2005 joint statement, before the talks broke down. The DPRK's missile test this July has further destabilized the diplomatic situation, and the U.S. and South Korea are working closely to coordinate their positions in response. The only viable solution, according to Ban, is for North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks unconditionally.

Coming to the subject of the United Nations, and his much-discussed candidacy for secretary general, Ban said that the Republic of Korea had been a major beneficiary of UN action and was a strong supporter of the UN's mission. As secretary general, he added, his primary focus would be to reform and streamline the organization so it can better perform its mission.

"The global organization is overstretched and fatigued, and often criticized for not delivering on promises made," Ban said. "The organization needs to sharpen its tools and streamline its work...the next secretary general of the UN will have the chance to take the UN to a new era of effective multilateralism.  This, I believe, lies in greater focus on implementation and fulfillment of pledges already made, such as the [Millennium Development Goals], so as to strengthen states and the inter-state system against the new challenges of the 21st century."

Minister Ban's speech was followed by a question and answer session with the audience.




The Quest for Peace and Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond

with

Ban Ki-Moon
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, South Korea

The Honorable Ban Ki-Moon is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in May 1970 upon passing the High Diplomatic Service Examination. Since then, he has had a long distinguished career in foreign services, and became known, particularly, for his expertise and experience in American affairs. He served as Counselor and Consul General at the Korean Embassy to the United States, Director-General in American Affairs Bureau at MOFA, and Minister at the Korean Embassy to the United States between 1987 and 1995.

Mr. Ban also represented the Republic of Korea in many international organizations. He was First Secretary at Korean Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations for two years before becoming the director of United Nations Division, International Organizations and Treaties Bureau, at MOFA in 1980. In May 2001 he was appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations (Chef de Cabinet of the President of the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations). In 1998, he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria and to the International Organizations in Vienna, and in the following year, Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CI'BTO).

Before taking the current office in January 2004, Mr. Ban worked in the Blue House as an adviser to the President Roh Moo-hyun for foreign policy. He also served President Kim Young Sam as his Chief of Protocol and, subsequently, the Senior Secretary for Foreign Policy and National Security. He is the recipient of many awards, including Order of Service Merit (1975), Order of Service Merit (1986), Grand Decoration of Honour from the Austrian Government (2001), and Grand Cross of Rio Blanco Order from the Brazilian Government (2002).

Mr. Ban graduated from Seoul National University in 1970 with a degree in international relations. He received a master’s degree in public administration in 1985 from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is married with one son and two daughters.