Ban Ki-moon, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) foreign minister who will doff the mantle of secretary-general of the United Nations in January, said Tuesday the organization cannot forge united global political will in an atmosphere of mistrust.

"As secretary-general, I will leave no stone unturned in my endeavor to dispel the bitter atmosphere and shore up the trust and confidence among all stakeholders," Ban told a luncheon marking the UN anniversary. "This will begin with winning the trust of all in myself and my leadership as secretary-general."

Ban said he would focus on reforms at the UN secretariat, increasing transparency and accountability. He added he would strive to eliminate duplication of efforts among various UN entities.

The ROK diplomat said the new UN Human Rights Council "must be nurtured into the leading force for the furtherance of human rights around the world."

He also stressed that less-developed countries must foster more innovative thinking to boost themselves, along with international help and that donor states should honor their pledges.
 
"I don't pretend to have all the answers to all the questions and challenges for the UN in its seventh decade," Ban said. "But I am a good listener, and I will be fully open to suggestions for better ideas and better ways to get things done."

While globalization poses an increasing number of problems that only the UN can effectively tackle, "the organization itself has been hampered by a divisiveness that has deepened and hardened over the years," he said in a speech.

"Indeed, many deplore that the UN is suffering from a 'crisis of confidence,' between member states, between the membership and the Secretariat, and over the effectiveness of the system to deliver on its promises."

Iran's nuclear program which the West suspects is designed to build bombs and North Korea's nuclear test threaten the global non-proliferation regime, he added.

(China Daily October 25, 2006)