The United Nations General Assembly on June 21 reappointed U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to another term that will run from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2016.
The appointment follows last week’s U.N. Security Council recommendation that endorses a second term for Ban, the eighth person to serve as secretary-general of the global body. He has held this role since 2007.
Following the decision, Joseph Deiss, president of the U.N. General Assembly, lauded Ban for his “remarkable leadership.”
“In a complex, difficult international environment, you have strengthened the role and the visibility of the United Nations by adopting reform measures; launching exciting, innovative initiatives; and calling faithfully and constantly for respect for human rights, the rule of law and the other values rooted in our Charter,” Deiss told the assembly, as reported by the U.N. News Center.
European Union leaders were quick to congratulate Ban.
“Since becoming High Representative, I have developed a very close relationship with Ban Ki-moon. We are both firm believers that global problems call for multilateral solutions. He knows that in all three pillars of the UN’s work (security, development and human rights), he can count on the European Union’s support,” said EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Catherine Ashton in a press release.
In a joint statement, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed Ban’s second term.
“Under his leadership the UN has played a decisive role in tackling issues of global nature from tackling climate change to peace and security, development and eradication of poverty. We look forward to continue the good cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations in the future,” they said.
The reappoinment, however, was not without controversy. Anwarul Chowdhury, a former U.N. undersecretary-general and high representative, as well as a former U.N. Security Council president, earlier criticized as “opaque” and “non-democratic” the U.N. Security Council’s recommendation that Ban be given a second term.
>> Anwarul Chowdhury: UN Secretary-General Selection Process Needs Reforms
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