By Wu Miaofa (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-31 07:29

It has been almost a year since Ban Ki-moon became secretary-general of the United Nations, the second Asian to take this office. The late U Thant of Myanmar was the first. UN member states, and the international community in general, are pinning high hopes on Ban who was elected by an overwhelming majority.

They are hoping he will be able to contribute to security, development and human rights, according to the guiding principles of the UN Charter. So far Ban has gained some remarkable achievements.

With years of experience working at the UN, Ban knew very well from the outset how difficult his job would be handling all kinds of traditional and non-traditional threats and challenges effectively. He turned the UN Secretariat into an energetic taskforce that could help him resolve various issues with dedication, patience, intelligence and diplomacy.

First, with the interests of the major powers as well as small and medium-sized nations in mind, Ban formed a no-frills secretariat consisting of a wide range of talents. He appointed diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and mid-level countries, as vice secretary-generals in charge of security, peacekeeping, human rights, finance, and the media.

He also appointed for the first time in UN history a representative of a small nation as the UN spokesperson, and a woman official as his standing vice secretary-general against opposition from many member countries.

In another unprecedented move, he set up an internal court to solve the problems of official corruption within the UN.

Second, he split the peacekeeping office into two divisions, peacekeeping and logistics, with the aim of turning it into a powerful force in maintaining world peace. The peacekeeping forces today are described as "a strong shield" for world peace, particularly by the developing nations.

Third, Ban has protected the UN Charter and the provisions of international law with steely resolve. He rejected Taiwan authorities' "bid to join the UN" by pointing out to Chen Shui-bien there is only one China in the world and that is the People's Republic of China, thus unmistakably protecting the UN Charter, international law and UN Resolution 2758. He thwarted the "Taiwan independence" conspiracy and maintained justice.

Fourth, he has tried to resolve Sudan's Darfur issue by laying down the dual tracks of a political process and a peacekeeping mission. On the Myanmar issue, he has appointed a special envoy and brought all sides concerned together for dialogue, helping to stabilize the situation in the Southeast Asian nation. This is another special contribution he has made for peace in Asia that is difficult not to go unnoticed.

Fifth, through the joint efforts of several parties, the Iran nuclear issue has made headway. Ban clearly favored dialogue over military force and managed to keep the thorny matter under control despite the difficult circumstances.

Sixth, he has given full support to the resumption of Middle East peace talks. Not only was the UN involved in the Annapolis Middle East Peace Conference organized by the United States, Ban also personally contributed in the process. It shows the UN, under Ban's leadership, cares a great deal about Middle East peace and undoubtedly serves as an encouragement to the parties concerned. Both sides of the conflict still have many outstanding issues to overcome on the long, arduous road to permanent peace.

Seventh, another breakthrough was achieved in bringing bickering parties together in pursuit of a solution to global warming. Ban has expressed a lot of personal concern about this issue since taking office. He believes resolution of this issue would help secure the future of mankind.

And, thanks to his insistence, the Security Council discussed global warming for first time last year with aim of reaching a consensus on what actions to take. Also under his initiative, the UN held a summit on global warming in December on the island resort of Bali in Indonesia. Ban even made an inspection tour of Antarctica to see for himself the changing conditions there.

The fact that this summit was able to pass a new treaty on climate change on the basis of the Kyoto Protocol represents quite an achievement, and has convinced nations of the world they must seek solutions to this vital issue.

Eighth, Ban has urged the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to draw up a new framework, which is expected to greatly influence the smooth development of human rights around the world. He believes the new UNHRC formed according to former secretary-general Kofi Annan's plan, should adopt the philosophy of gradually advancing the cause of human rights in a proactive and safe manner as the conditions of developing nations warrant, a truly wise decision.

To date the UNHRC (the US has yet to join) has published its regulations and framework. One of the main features is that the human rights of any developed or developing nation should be subject to its scrutiny without exception. This is in fact has turned the tables on years of wanton, rude interference by the US and other Western countries in the human rights records of developing nations. Human rights will now be able to develop in a new, smooth manner.

Ninth, Ban has put a lot of thought into balanced development of the world economy and has been working hard to keep it locked into the Millennium Development Goals.

He has insisted that developed countries must honor their promises to provide developing nations with aid worth 0.7 percent of their gross national product and has called on UN member states to increase aid for African countries.

Tenth, he has made sure of the passage of the UN budget. The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) managed to pass the bi-annual budget of the UN after heated debate. Ban played an important role in its passage, thus ensuring the UN will, financially, be able to operate normally.

All UN secretary-generals have been confined to the following six factors since the world body was founded 62 years ago.

The first, the global situation at a given time; second, the wish, will and determination of developing nations; third, the point where the interests of developed and developing countries meet; fourth, the point where the national interests of major powers and particularly the five permanent members of the Security Council meet; fifth, the US factor, namely its efforts to "reform" the UN according to its own strategy; sixth, a secretary-general's assertiveness, sensitivity and use of his diplomatic prowess.

Judging by the way the 2007 schedule panned out, all the above-listed factors, and the US factor in particular, played their roles. The US has seen its foreign affairs reform run into trouble quite a few times in recent years and was compelled to make strategic adjustments to its efforts to reform the UN.

The Bush administration has struggled to break free of the Iraq dilemma. The adjustments have included swinging from unilateralism to multilateralism and attempts to rely on or consult the European Union (EU) and other major powers on critical issues. However, when it felt necessary, the US would revert to unilateralism, such as the recent sanctions against Iran.

This global backdrop has offered Ban rather favorable conditions to work within the UN. We should give Ban's achievements a more objective and fair appraisal. It should also allow people to take a more tolerant attitude toward the achievements and missteps made by the most authoritative inter-governmental organization in the world - the United Nations.

If what Ban has done in 2007 as secretary-general more or less bordered on exploration and experiment, he is faced with a more glorious, yet arduous mission this year.

In other words, 2008 will be a year when Ban will have to put his diplomatic prowess further to the test by tackling more bona fide critical issues. The UN member states all have high hopes for him, as does the international community, but with higher expectations.

To quote Ban he will be working on a "stronger and more powerful United Nations".

The author is a researcher with China Institute of International Studies

(China Daily 01/31/2008 page9)