Asia-Pacific

Key quotes about the UN secretary-general nominee

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-10 10:51

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was formally nominated by the U.N. Security Council as U.N. secretary-general on Monday.

The 192-member U.N. General Assembly must give final approval to Ban's nomination, which usually follows within a week or two. That vote is expected to be positive.

He will succeed Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose 10 years in office expire on December 31.

Here are key quotes about Ban's nomination:

BRITAIN'S U.N. AMBASSADOR EMYR JONES PARRY:

"We are very pleased. He brings to the job a set of impeccable, impressive credentials. We have worked with him in the past, we look forward to working with him in the future and we have supported him throughout this process so we are very pleased for him."

SPOKESMAN FOR U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN:

"(The secretary-general) has the highest respect for Mr. Ban ... For his part, the secretary-general will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition."

JAPAN'S U.N. AMBASSADOR KENZO OSHIMA:

"I think the fact the candidate is current foreign minister of the Republic of Korea is an asset in dealing with the situation in the Korean peninsula that we are now facing."

U.S. AMBASSADOR JOHN BOLTON:

"With this vote today, the winds of change at the United Nations have started to rise and we are looking forward to some significant steps in the reform process when he takes office."

FRANCE'S U.N. AMBASSADOR JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE:

"He certainly has all the qualifications for the job. He has shown a real will not only to deal with crises but also to continue the work which is done for development and for Africa. I think there will be a window of opportunity for management reform of the U.N."

SEAN MCCORMACK, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN:

"We look forward to working with him as secretary-general as he leads the United Nations in addressing the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of freedom, democracy and human rights, and the fight against both current and emerging threats from terrorism, weapons proliferation and disease."