2006年VOA标准英语-Ban Vows to Restore Trust At UN, Calls Middle E

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
14 December 2006

South Korea's Ban Ki-moon has been sworn in as U.N. secretary-general, and though he has yet to assume his position he is already vowing 1 to restore trust in the world body battered 2 by scandals and disputes among member states. VOA's correspondent at the U.N. Peter Heinlein reports Mr. Ban served notice that he intends to be an active voice on world affairs.

Ban Ki-moon



In his inaugural 3 address, the 62-year-old career diplomat 4 pledged to work to bridge differences among member states when he becomes secretary-general January 1. He spoke 5 of rebuilding confidence in an organization battered by scandal and bitter disputes in recent years.

"My first priority will be to restore trust," said Ban Ki-moon. "I will seek to act as a harmonizer and bridge-builder."

Speaking to reporters after the oath taking, Mr. Ban said he hopes his mission to restore trust does not turn out to be "Mission Impossible."

He also answered questions on a variety of pressing global and regional issues, revealing that he is already actively 6 engaged on pressing issues.

He said the deteriorating 7 situation in the Middle East would be among his top priorities, with emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He warned Iran's leaders that their Holocaust 8 denial and calls for Israel's elimination 9 are "unacceptable."

"Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust is not acceptable," he said. "Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any state or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected in rhetoric 10 and practice by all the members of international community."

He had similarly strong words to describe the tragedy in Darfur, and suggested he would continue Secretary-General Annan's attempt to work with Sudan's leaders to reverse what he called "deteriorating" security conditions in Darfur.

"Secretary-General Kofi Annan has done a great effort to talk directly to President Bashir of Sudan and other leaders of the African Union," said Ban Ki-moon. "The suffering of the people of Darfur is simply unacceptable. Despite intensive efforts, the security appears to be deteriorating over recent days."

Mr. Ban's most difficult moment came when a reporter asked him to test out his command of French, a language he only recently learned.

By tradition, the U.N. leader must be able to have a working knowledge of French, and Mr. Ban has been studying hard since declaring his candidacy for the job nearly a year ago. But after stumbling with his first few French words, Mr. Ban gave up, and switched to an English/French mix.

"Je n'ai pas pu' [I wasn't able to follow all of your question] duplication of language, if you could speak lentement en francais [if you could speak more slowly in French, I will do my best, but it is very hard for me]."

Mr. Ban is said to be planning sweeping 11 changes in the vast U.N. bureaucracy in his first few months in office, and staffers had earlier suggested he might make his first appointments immediately after his swearing in ceremony.

But he told reporters Thursday he is not ready to announce names. He said only that he will almost certainly choose a woman to be deputy secretary general. She will be in charge of what is expected to be a renewed push for reform of the vast U.N. bureaucracy.