YouSaid · the spoken record

Ban Ki-Moon

lines on the record: 60
first: 2004-09-24
most recent: 2006-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I have every confidence that, with the founding principles and purposes as our guideposts, and empowered by renewed faith and commitment, we can together go very far and fast in the challenging and exciting times to come.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“As Member States and stakeholders in this vital Organization, we should address mandate review as a historic opportunity to streamline, focus and strengthen our collective efforts. This unique world body was forged by men and women of conscience, courage and determination. Their genius was to understand that we need the United Nations not because we always agree but because frequently we do not. The United Nations remains no more and no less than what we make of it. The United Nations journey is never easy, but it is always well worth taking. We have come a very long way, but the road still stretches out endlessly before us.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The United Nations needs to be able to deploy the best people where they are needed and when they are needed, to ensure that managers have the requisite expertise and experience to oversee highly dynamic and professional operations under often trying conditions. Improving the accountability and oversight of the Secretariat while building upon the measures already taken over the past year remains a priority. The early launch of an independent audit advisory committee that is genuinely independent and professional, along with steps to ensure management accountability, would be instrumental in that regard. The United Nations procurement system requires strengthened internal controls and transparent management to match the growing dimensions of its work.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“A number of valuable ideas for reforming United Nations management practices were contained in the Secretary-General’s report (A/60/692) entitled “Investing in the United Nations”. Some of those proposals have already been adopted by the General Assembly, while others await further consideration during this session. 27 06-53005 The Secretary-General’s comments on the evolving nature of the human resource needs of the United Nations were especially apt in the light of the accelerating demands for field staff. The General Assembly should give positive consideration to steps to make the Secretariat more mobile, integrated and multi-skilled.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Gender mainstreaming must be made a central pillar of policy strategy, in particular with regard to attaining the MDGs in such areas as eliminating poverty and combating HIV/AIDS. Lasting social change cannot be realized until women are fully incorporated into the process. The urgency, complexity and scope of the three pillars of the work of the United Nations — peace and security, development and human rights — demand the highest standards of efficient, effective and accountable management. The highly decentralized nature of the United Nations system puts a premium on coherence and coordination. We must streamline the United Nations machinery, reorganize priorities and minimize redundancy. The High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence may offer some fresh ideas in that regard.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The target established at the 2005 World Summit of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for development assistance forms the cornerstone of our strong commitment to achieving the MDGs. Innovative sources of financing, such as the air-ticket solidarity fund, need to be further explored. New sources of financing should not, however, be a substitute for existing official development assistance (ODA). As part of its commitment to doubling overall ODA by 2009, this year my Government launched Korea’s Initiative for Africa’s Development. Under that initiative, we will substantially increase our development assistance to Africa. The key lessons to be drawn from the Korean experience over the decades are that education is key to development, and that women and girls are the most effective agents for change and social progress.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Key goals, such as the eradication of extreme poverty and curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, are in danger of slipping out of reach if we do not act quickly and decisively. Meeting the MDGs by 2015 is a tall order, but we should never forget that, for the neediest members of humankind, the United Nations may be the only beacon of hope for a better life. The credibility of the United Nations largely depends upon its ability to accomplish its mission as regards the MDGs. While developing countries should take primary responsibility and ownership for their own development, we must honour our commitments and redouble our efforts to realize effective global partnerships for development.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In particular, we fully share the international community’s concern over the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We call upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to heed those concerns and to meet the call for dialogue on human rights. The United Nations greeted the twenty-first century with a solemn promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Progress has been made, but it has been far too uneven from country to country and from region to region. Those countries in Africa that lack the minimum resources for development require the focused attention and assistance of the international community.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Together, we can make the Council the pre- eminent global forum for the advancement of human rights around the world. Divided, we will lose a historic opportunity. The protection of human rights is not a matter of choice. It is the solemn duty of all responsible members of the international community. Without respect for human rights — in particular for the most vulnerable members of society — peace and development have little meaning. The successful conclusion of the negotiations on a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities speaks to the essential humanity of the United Nations, which is its most precious asset. The Republic of Korea is fully committed to the principle of all human rights for all. We deeply empathize with the suffering in those areas of the world where human rights are given little more than lip service.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The performance of the United Nations cannot be measured by the creation of new machinery, any more than by the adoption of resolutions. As the Secretary- General has wisely reminded us, what matters is whether and how the United Nations makes a difference in the lives of people and in the conduct of States and non-State actors over time. 06-53005 26 Two new intergovernmental bodies, the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, seek to make just such a difference. Their success, however, is far from assured. A great deal is at stake. Will the new Human Rights Council usher in an era of renewed cooperation and solidarity in the work of the United Nations on human rights? Will the universal periodic review succeed in offering all States a candid and constructive assessment of ways to enhance their human rights practices?”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“As a friend of Iraq, my Government supports its efforts at national reconstruction and welcomes the recent launch of the International Compact with Iraq to speed the process. In Africa, stability and democracy are gaining ground, step by step, in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The security and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, however, remains acute. The Secretary-General’s strong personal engagement has been critical in sustaining international attention and the flow of assistance to the beleaguered people of Darfur. Now, the smooth transition of the African Union Mission in the Sudan to the United Nations Mission in the Sudan must be accomplished in accordance with Security Council resolution 1706 (2006).”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon is a challenging case in point. To succeed, UNIFIL must have the active support of all Member States, backed by timely humanitarian and economic assistance. To that end, my Government has been providing substantial humanitarian assistance to the afflicted population. The undiminished human suffering in Palestine remains another source of deep concern. We urge the early revival of the stalled peace process. The violence and the loss of innocent lives in Iraq concern us enormously as well. We trust that Iraq will become a stable and prosperous democracy under the leadership of its new Government.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In that regard, during the summit meeting held last week in Washington, D.C., President Roh Moo-hyun and President Bush agreed to work with other nations of the Six-Party Talks to develop a common and comprehensive approach to energize the stalled talks. I strongly hope that those efforts will bear fruit and that we can work to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula as envisaged in the Joint Statement adopted on 19 September 2005. Although not mentioned in the Charter, peacekeeping has become a defining feature of the post-cold-war era, as well as the largest, most expensive and most visible operational activity of the United Nations. The surge in calls for the services of the Blue Helmets attests to the Organization’s continuing, even growing, relevance.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“I would call for creative, constructive thinking on the part of all parties concerned, so as to resolve the issue within the framework of the NPT regime. As for the situation on the Korean peninsula, the nuclear and missile programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitute a serious challenge to the non-proliferation regime, as well as to regional security. My Government fully supports Security Council resolution 1695 (2006). We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to refrain from any action that might aggravate the situation, and to return to the Six-Party Talks without preconditions, for a diplomatic resolution of the matter.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We cannot permit the credibility of the international nuclear non- proliferation regime, built around the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to be undermined by evasion and concealment concerning safeguards obligations. We should redouble our efforts to get more countries to sign and ratify International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) additional protocols. An early start of negotiations on a fissile material cut- off treaty and an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) should also be supported. Meanwhile, we must seek peaceful solutions to the outstanding challenges to the system, including the Iranian nuclear issue that is before the Security Council. It is not too late to work towards a negotiated solution on that issue with its far-reaching implications.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the United Nations has played an increasingly 25 06-53005 indispensable role in the international community’s counter-terrorism efforts. Still, agreement on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism remains elusive. But we must continue to try. In the meantime, the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy (resolution 60/288), adopted at the end of the sixtieth session of the Assembly, will guide our collective efforts to free the world from the scourge of terrorism. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses an equally urgent and unacceptable threat to the peace and security of the world.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Not only has it achieved that cardinal goal despite four decades of cold war, but it has also offered States multiple means of resolving their differences, short of war. However, we cannot be sanguine about future trends. If the primary task of the United Nations in the twentieth century was to curb inter-State conflict, its core mandate in the new century must be to strengthen States and to preserve the inter-State system in the face of new challenges. Some assert that the United Nations is poorly equipped to deal with new threats, such as those posed by non-State actors seeking to undermine the international order. The Charter was crafted to give Member States ample flexibility in adapting the United Nations machinery to respond to novel threats in a changing world. But our tools need sharpening.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Let me begin by congratulating the presidency on the success of the High-level Meeting on the least developed countries, earlier in the week. I had the honour of participating in the Meeting, which heralded a very productive year for the Assembly under the astute leadership of Her Excellency Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, President of the General Assembly, and her Bureau. I would like to express my deepest thanks and admiration to His Excellency Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his unparalleled dedication and contribution to world peace and prosperity through his dedicated service to our global Organization. The United Nations was created, first and foremost, to forestall another world war.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Let us proceed with vigour and dedication to put them into action.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“But we are a country that was born and developed alongside the United Nations over the past 60 years, receiving particularly active assistance from it in earlier decades. We have full confidence in the future of the Organization. Now a maturing democracy that upholds human rights, an emerging donor that seeks to do its share in helping others, and a staunch advocate of peace and effective multilateralism, the Republic of Korea is fully committed to bringing greater vitality and reliability to the United Nations. At the High-level Plenary the leaders of the world gave us guiding words for making the United Nations a more effective and relevant instrument for realizing the aspirations of the global community in the twenty-first century. We must not let those words remain just words.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Without bold reforms to restore the trust and support of the global community, enhance efficacy and improve 16 the morale of staff, the system will not be able to live up to the growing expectations of the twenty-first century. Underscoring the vital importance of this issue, the High-level Plenary Meeting has fully endorsed the management reform initiatives taken by the Secretary- General. With the active support and encouragement of Member States, those initiatives should quickly bear fruit, providing strengthened accountability and oversight, higher performance and ethical standards for staff, and greater authority and responsibility for the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the Organization. The challenges facing the United Nations today are daunting. Some may find them insurmountable.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The Secretariat has long served the collective will and interests of the Member States of the United Nations. The contributions of those who have served in the United Nations system with dedication and professionalism should be highly praised. However, the credibility and integrity of the system have been damaged by recent revelations of mismanagement and corruption. The maladministration of the oil-for-food programme, as Mr. Volcker stated in delivering his fourth report to the Security Council, should not be seen as a lone case but as symptomatic of deep-seated systemic issues of an Organization designed for simpler times. Reform, as he further stated, is urgent.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Faithful to the guidance provided in the outcome document of the High-level Plenary Meeting, and in synergistic cooperation with one another, all stakeholders — Member States, the Secretariat, the funds and programmes, specialized agencies and other constituents of the United Nations system — must seize this opportunity for renewal and revitalization. Indeed, we must engage in a genuine exercise in multilateralism to strengthen our global body. Reform of the Security Council must be pursued to enhance its accountability, transparency and efficiency. My delegation believes that increasing the number of non-permanent seats on the Council, with no addition of permanent seats, is the best way to foster broad-based consensus on this vital issue.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“But of one thing I am certain: all of us gathered here are united in the conviction that the hope must triumph over the disappointment; that we must rise to the occasion and make the United Nations fit for the twenty-first century. Indeed, our global body must be strengthened with far-reaching reforms that are in step with the dynamic challenges of a borderless and fluid world. Those reforms should be comprehensive — encompassing all the elements of the system — and realized in such a way as to give all Members, large and small, a sense of ownership in the process and the outcome.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We mark the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations with mixed feelings. On the one hand, there is much hope. It is the hope of the entire international community for the United Nations to prevail over the new challenges of the twenty-first century and to assume a more central role in strengthening peace and security, promoting prosperity and spreading democracy and human rights around the world. On the other hand, there is widespread disappointment. It has become painfully clear that the United Nations as it stands today is unfit to carry out the demands of these complex times. Between the hope and the disappointment, there is much uncertainty.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Coming less than a year after the massive tsunami that struck many countries of South-East Asia, Katrina once again mobilized the international community in bringing emergency relief to the victims. It also underscored the urgency of establishing effective mechanisms to cope with natural disasters around the world, including the importance of early warning systems. With those lessons in mind, natural disasters will be a primary issue for debate at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting, which my country is hosting in Busan in November. Meanwhile, we reaffirm our support for the reform of United Nations humanitarian aid agencies to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in helping countries to recover from disaster and rebuild their capacities for sustainable development.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The principle of the “responsibility to protect”, as discussed during the High-level Plenary Meeting, underscores the responsibility of the international community to lend assistance to States in upholding their solemn obligation to protect their citizens. We support the continued deliberations by Member States to reach agreement on the responsibility to protect. This would certainly form the backbone of a preventive mechanism against gross violations of human rights. Earlier this month, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding areas in the United States, causing massive casualties and tremendous pain and suffering for the victims and their families. On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Korea, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to those affected.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The Republic of Korea is also committed to democracy at home and abroad. We are an active participant in the Community of Democracies and have supported the International Conference of New and Restored Democracies. We have pledged to contribute 15 to the United Nations Democracy Fund, and we will remain a strong supporter of the continuing mission of the United Nations to nurture and strengthen democracy and human rights around the world. Respect for human rights and the rule of law are indispensable for the preservation of peace and cooperation among nations. Mass killings, genocide and other grave infringements of human rights are threats to peace and stability and must not be let pass with impunity.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We urge North Korea to take this road. The Republic of Korea is committed to promoting human rights as universal values that should be guaranteed to all. Based on our own experience of the past decades, we know that development and security are on shaky ground without full respect for the human rights of all. We thus welcome the reform initiatives to strengthen the United Nations human rights system and wholly support the creation of a Human Rights Council. We would have preferred to see stronger language and greater detail about the composition, mandate and functions of the Council spelled out in the summit outcome document. Working closely with other delegations, we hope to promptly engage in active consultations so that the Council can be established and can start functioning as soon as possible.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“As we are gathered here, the resumed fourth round is under way to adopt an agreement on the principles for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Once adopted, the agreement will be a crucial step towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and will launch discussions on an action plan towards a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. A strategic decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to dismantle all nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes would be met with economic and energy assistance and security assurances. North Korea must return to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and comply with the full scope of IAEA safeguards so as to restore the trust of the international community. The doors would then open to its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“I would like to take this opportunity to address the current situation regarding the North Korean nuclear issue. After a 13-month hiatus, the fourth round of the six-party talks commenced on 26 July, broke off for a recess and resumed last week. During the talks, all participants agreed on the goal and principles of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. They conducted serious, in-depth consultations to make substantive progress towards realizing that objective. For our part, the Republic of Korea has made an earnest effort to expedite the talks and move them towards a resolution, including through the offer to supply 2 million kilowatts of electric power to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea directly, addressing one of the most pressing problems it faces.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Shameful misconduct by some peacekeeping operation personnel in certain missions has added to the sense of disappointment. Obviously, what is needed is a more structured and extensive mechanism to make the peace more durable and consolidate the grounds for post-conflict reconstruction. In this regard, my Government welcomes the decision taken at the High-level Plenary Meeting to establish a Peacebuilding Commission. We hope to play our part, so that effective peacebuilding can become an important part of the role of the United Nations to ensure peace and security around the world. This is very much in line with our past and current participation in efforts to restore peace in many challenged areas of the world, including in Iraq, where we are helping the Iraqi people to build a democratic and prosperous country.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“At the same time, the Security Council must exercise with only the utmost prudence its prerogative to sanction the use of force. In that regard, we should build upon the agreement reflected in the outcome document on the establishment of principles for the use of force. That would lead to the strengthened relevance and efficiency of the Security Council and of the collective security system embodied in the United Nations as a whole. Peacekeeping has been an important part of this system. Indeed, the success of the peacekeeping missions in such places as Timor-Leste has been one of the proudest achievements of the Organization in recent years. However, there have been failures, as well as cases of fragile peace being overtaken by the resumption of conflict.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Thus, we are dismayed that the outcome document of the High-level Plenary Meeting is silent on this vital issue. We very much hope for an early opportunity to redress this omission. In the meantime, my Government will 14 continue to press for the strengthening of the nuclear compliance and verification system. We call for the universal adoption of International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) additional protocols, the disarmament and non-proliferation of biological and chemical weapons and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004). In facing the threats of terrorism or WMDs, or any traditional threats, the Security Council must be made to act more quickly and efficiently to situations that arise when the elements of a threat become reality.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The Republic of Korea is already a party to all 12 international anti-terrorism conventions in force. Last week, I signed for my Government the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism as soon as it was opened for signature. We are strongly committed to preventing and eradicating international terrorism in all its forms. We will continue to actively participate in the efforts to conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as soon as possible. The proliferation of WMDs is another pressing security concern. The prospect of WMDs falling into the hands of terrorists is more alarming and real than ever before. The Republic of Korea is fully committed to the non-proliferation of WMDs.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“And we have taken part in the launching of the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, announced by President Bush of the United States in his speech here last week (see A/60/PV.2). As world leaders noted, the threats to peace and security around the world today are increasing, interconnected and global in scale. They require of us an urgent, collective and more determined response. Terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and transnational crime are grave threats that can be most effectively addressed when countries act in concert under the United Nations banner. Cruel and inhuman acts of terrorism targeting innocent lives, as witnessed in Iraq, the United Kingdom and elsewhere, are heinous crimes for which there can be no justification.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Thus, we are working with the Secretariat to establish a United Nations governance centre in Seoul, as a follow-up to the Sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, which my Government hosted earlier this year. Health is another area that requires our collective action. In our globalized, connected world, infectious diseases can spread with terrifying speed, with no regard for borders. They can become pandemics that threaten the development and the security of affected countries and regions. Here, too, the world must act together. For its part, my Government is contributing to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are also vigorously supporting the activities of the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul, which strives to develop and disseminate vaccines most needed in the world’s poorest regions.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We now plan to double it again by 2009. My Government is also seeking other ways to build partnerships with developing countries. Utilizing our resources and expertise in information and communication technology, we are working with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to build and host an Asia-Pacific training centre for information and communication technology, with an initial outlay of $10 million. The centre will contribute to reducing the digital divide and enabling developing countries to make the most of information and communication technologies for development. Korea is also dedicated to good governance, which is an essential ingredient of development.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“We must fully and speedily implement them so that, by the year 2015, most of the world’s impoverished are freed from hunger and poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS is halted, primary education is made universal for all children, gender equality takes firm root in all societies and the global partnership to achieve those and other development goals is in full operation. In particular, we welcome the timetables many developed countries have presented for reaching the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance (ODA) by 2015. The Republic of Korea is committed to doing its share. Despite the internal and external economic challenges that my country has faced since the financial crisis of 1997, we have continued to increase development assistance year after year, doubling our ODA between 2000 and 2004.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Success will be ensured only when each and every one of us strives to look beyond the immediate horizon. We must commit ourselves anew to realizing the ideal that inspired the founders of the Organization 60 years ago, that of building a peaceful and prosperous world in 13 which all peoples live together in harmony, free from want and fear. Certainly, with 30,000 children dying of hunger or preventable diseases every day, the world lies far from that ideal today. Everyone agrees that we have the means to lift the whole world out of poverty and underdevelopment. We just need to effectively put those means to good use. Thus, the concrete, action- oriented recommendations adopted by our leaders on partnership, financing, trade, debt relief and other aspects of development are greatly welcome.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“The leaders of the world gathered here last week in the largest summit meeting of States in history and demonstrated their collective political will to overcome the challenges of the present and to build a future of peace and prosperity for all humankind. They reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. They also underscored the vital role of the United Nations for our time and gave guidance on steps to reform the Organization. The outcome document (resolution 60/1), adopted in the greatest spirit of cooperation and compromise, may not be everything to everyone, but it is the guideline for action that our leaders have given us. The task now is to implement it. The work will require determined action by all.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Let me begin, Sir, by extending my sincere congratulations to you on assuming the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. Well aware of your experience and diplomatic skills, I have every confidence that under your able leadership, we will achieve great results during this important session, which marks the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping, whose tireless work enabled the membership to successfully prepare for the High-level Plenary Meeting held last week. My highest tribute also goes to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, for his unqualified dedication to our world body.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“In that spirit, we support an increase in non-permanent members so as to accord to those Member States willing and able to contribute to international peace and security greater opportunities to serve in the Council. As diverse as they are, there is a common thread that holds together all the views expressed in this honourable Hall. We are all united in the goal of seeking a better and more peaceful world. Now more than ever, countries are called to rise to challenges together, as Members of our one global body. The Republic of Korea stands firm in its hopes for and belief in the United Nations as the steadfast anchor for our collective endeavours and remains as committed as ever to fully playing its part in all areas of its noble work.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“No doubt, continued reform of the United Nations will be an important part of our discussions. In particular, the Security Council, as the primary organ for maintaining peace and security, must be reformed in such a way as to make it more representative and democratic than it is today. In that regard, we share the view that the Security Council should be expanded to adequately reflect the increase in the membership of the United Nations during the past decades. Expansion of the Security Council should be designed to enable more countries to participate in the Council more often, and on the basis of a more equitable geographical distribution.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Meanwhile, doubts have been expressed as to whether the current United Nations system is suitable for confronting the challenges of the new century. As the Secretary-General has pointed out, the United Nations has come to a fork in the road. Choices must be made if the United Nations is to be strengthened and made more effective. In that regard, the Republic of Korea hopes that the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change established on the recommendation of the Secretary- General will identify the challenges the international community faces and recommend ways to deal with them effectively. We look forward to the Panel’s report and hope that its recommendations will shed light on ways to make the United Nations more effective and responsive to the needs of the twenty-first century.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Furthermore, all too often, the complexities of major crises have been fuelled by the public health emergency created by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In order to overcome the scourge of HIV/AIDS, it is vital that we strengthen the global assistance mechanisms. In this regard, the 3 by 5 Initiative of the World Health Organization, aimed at providing antiretroviral treatment to 3 million infected people by the year 2005, is a very timely and proactive initiative. For almost six decades, the United Nations has played a crucial role in merging the diverse interests of our Member States for the global good. As the international community becomes more interdependent and areas of cooperation expand further in the twenty- first century, the world body will have an even greater role to play.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Next year in Seoul, my Government will also host the Sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, in cooperation with the United Nations. We are convinced that this Forum will serve as a useful venue for the exchange of experience in Government innovations aimed at enhancing participation and transparency in governance. We also support the United Nations in reaching out to people in distress in many corners of the world 29 and providing life-saving assistance to millions of refugees and others displaced by conflicts and natural disasters. We share the concern of the international community over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. Security Council resolution 1564 (2004) should be implemented so as to bring back peace and stability to this troubled area and its inhabitants.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“While persevering in its quest to make human rights universal, the United Nations has exerted special efforts to enable the most vulnerable of our fellow human beings to enjoy the rights and freedoms that should be guaranteed to all. In particular, much progress has been made in the endeavours to draft a convention to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. The Government of the Republic of Korea strongly supports global action to strengthen the values of human rights and democracy around the world. Just last week in Seoul, we organized a seminar on good governance practices for the promotion of human rights, in conjunction with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“A large part of the human population still languishes in abject poverty, presenting a serious stumbling block to the achievement of our shared goal of lasting peace and prosperity for all. Four years ago, the leaders of the world pledged to reduce by half the proportion of people living in poverty and hunger by the year 2015 as part of the Millennium Development Goals. However, at this point, the gap between the objectives and the tangible progress we have made remains wide. It is our sincere hope that the 2005 high-level meeting to review the progress made in the implementation of the Goals will serve to renew our commitment to the world’s poor. Political will is the key. Over the past year, the United Nations has continued its efforts to realize our common aspirations for the promotion of human rights, freedom and well- being.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Impressive progress is also being made on major projects for economic cooperation. In particular, the start of operations at the Gaesong industrial complex, scheduled for later this year, will be a significant achievement in inter-Korean cooperation. As a result of such efforts, we believe that inter- Korean exchanges and cooperation have now advanced to a point from which there is no turning back. The rise of such inter-Korean interaction and interdependence will certainly contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and beyond. There are no easy answers to the many problems the world now faces, and poverty is at the top of that list. The roots of poverty run deep, with no simple solution in sight.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)