Roundup: South Korea expects success in race for top UN post

The South Korean government on Tuesday finally made public its decision to send its Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to run for the post of secretary general of the United Nations.

The official announcement came almost four months after the South Korean government made the in-house decision to have its candidate for the important position for the first time in its history.

South Korea placed great expectation on the 61-year-old career diplomat, hoping Ban will win the fierce competition.

Still, South Korea and Ban himself have remained a low-profile campaign and seem to continue such strategy.

Ban is the third candidate to officially announce participation in the competition, following Sri Lanka's former UN Vice-Secretary General Jayantha Dhanapala and Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. More candidates are hoped to declare their participation in the race.

Traditionally, the UN top job rotates every 10 years by region, and there is a growing consensus that it is Asia's turn this time.

The current UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to conclude his second five-year term at the end of this year. And the multinational organization is expected to choose its new head in this fall.

Tuesday afternoon, Ban explained his stance over the decision to run for the post at a press briefing, saying he has sent letters to his counterparts in 190 other UN member nations to explain his aspirations for the UN job.

He said he had informed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of his intention in a separate occasion.

"If I am elected UN secretary general, it is expected to play a positive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," Ban said.

He also said that the United Nations should be reformed according to new developing situation in the world.

Officials here said that Ban planned to continue his quiet campaign despite the formal declaration.

At the same time, the South Korean government plans to take a cautious approach as it is the first time for the country to have its candidacy for the post.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Presidential Office also called on people not to launch a nationwide campaign for Ban, considering the complicated election system of the United Nations.

The Presidential Office even did not issue official statement on the issue on Tuesday, but saying it will show its official support only after the international race for the post formally kicks off later this year.

The South Korean government has also reportedly cautioned local media outlets not to pay excessive attention to Ban's bid, saying that such exposure could trigger negative counter-campaigns by competitors or have other adverse effects.

South Korean political parties unanimously extended their support for Ban's biding, either ruling or opposition parties on Tuesday expressed full support for Ban.

Annan's successor will be voted on by the 191 UN member countries, but the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.

How to win the heart of the five powers is Ban and South Korea's top task currently.

From May 2001 to September 2002, Ban served as chief of the Cabinet of the President of the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations and South Korea's ambassador to the multinational organization.

He also served as the First Secretary on South Korea's permanent observer mission to the United Nations in New York from 1978 to 1980, and was director of the UN division at South Korea's Foreign Ministry from 1980 to 1983.

Ban's rich experience in the United Nations made him of high reputation in the western countries.

Local media commented that Ban's possible success in the race will promote South Korea's international image and help the country to make contribution to the multilateralism.

Source: Xinhua