Ban Ki-moon prepares to take over as UN chief
Ban Ki-moon started a six-week transition for his new job as UN secretary-general, saying he plans to meet candidates for top jobs and hold wide-ranging talks in the US with ambassadors and UN officials.
The former South Korean foreign minister arrived in New York and went to UN headquarters for his first meeting with the president of the General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, an office he knows well having served as chief of staff to one of her predecessors.
Emerging after a 45-minute meeting, he said he had “a very good discussion” on major issues including the ongoing reform of the United Nations and regional issues.
“My mission, my plan at this time is to take charge of the transition until the end of December,” he said.
The UN’s top officials – the under-secretary-generals – have contracts which expire at the end of January. Ban has indicated he will choose a new team, but has not said whether he will ask any of them to stay on.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan steps down on December 31 at the end of his second five-year term. Ban, a 62-year-old career diplomat, was unanimously elected to succeed Annan last month and will become the first Asian to lead the world body in 35 years when he takes the helm on January 1.
“I’m going to meet with secretary-general next week and many other ambassadors of the countries as well as some representatives of the related organisations,” Ban said.
“I’m also going to get briefings from many department heads of the United Nations to get ... familiarised with all the major important issues.”
