Same old UN under Ban's leadership

• Source: Global Times
• [21:50 January 19 2010]
• Comments

The Haiti earthquake devastated the peacekeeping force that the UN had maintained there for years.

In the following relief and rescue operations, the performance of several countries, and even some other NGOs outshined the UN, despite it having permanent staff in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

This both undermined the authority of Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the UN and highlighted the urgency of UN reform.

Ban had a great opportunity to lead UN reform when he first came into office, but he missed it.

Ban has not pushed UN reform correctly. Ban came from the so-called United for Consensus campaign, including his homeland of South Korea, as well as Italy and Pakistan.

This group advocated reforming the UN Security Council, but did not expect additional permanent member states.

Therefore, Ban endeavored to avoid taking a stand on this issue, and discussion on it also withered away since he assumed office.

The US has called for reform while opposing more seats in the Security Council and especially additional veto rights. Ban obviously followed the US's mentality, which made it hard for him to win support from emerging powers.

Ban has concentrated more power in his own hands. What people see now is a just-work-ing UN, rather than a stronger and more efficient one.

The UN has appeared weak at combating the financial crisis, leading the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, cracking down on Somali pirates and saving lives in Haiti.

A UN leader who can really deliver strong change at the UN hasn't come yet.

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