The Republic of Korea and the UN at Sixty Years

Remarks by

H.E. Ban Ki-moon

                               Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

 At a luncheon to commemorate United Nations Day

October 24, 2005

Seoul

President Park Soo Gil, Excellencies, distinguished members of the UN Association of Korea, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to speak to you on this UN Day, marking the 60th birthday of the United Nations.  Every year, we gather on this day to say happy birthday to the United Nations, and to celebrate the close ties that it has nurtured with our country and people.

This year, the day is even more special.  As anyone accustomed to tradition in this part of the world would know, the 60^th birthday is very special.  It marks the completion of one’s life-cycle.  In the old days, when life expectancy was short, it meant the rest of life was a process of disengagement and withdrawal.  But these days, it means an opportunity for renewal and transformation toward greater fulfillment in life. 

Other countries may not share this tradition, but all members would share the view that the United Nations, at sixty years of age, is at a vital turning point.  The organization is called upon to change and reform to take charge of the 21^st century and meet the growing expectations of the peoples around the world.  Indeed, the past few years have been rich with debate and ideas on how the organization should be reformed.  Building upon the discussions, the UN must make hard choices and undertake difficult tasks in self-renewal. 

Thus, it was most timely that the leaders of the world gathered at the UN at the beginning of the 60^th session of the General Assembly last month in the largest summit meeting of states in history.  Over 150 heads-of-state and government took part, including President Roh Moo-hyun.  They presented their views on the UN’s place in the 21^st century global order, and adopted an outcome document.  The agreement spells out the actions to be taken to better promote peace, development and human rights, the three pillars on which the UN is built.  It also outlines steps to reform the United Nations system so as to enhance its relevance and effectiveness in meeting the challenges of the 21^st century.   

As friends and supporters of the UN, you must keep close track of UN developments, and are well aware of the significance of the World Summit last month and its outcome.  I would just like to highlight some of the key elements that are particularly important to the Republic of Korea.    

First, we very much welcome the renewed commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, and applaud the timetables offered by many developed countries to reach the target of 0.7% of GNI for official development assistance by 2015.  As an emerging donor, the Republic of Korea has doubled its own development assistance since the Millennium Summit in 2000, and aspires to reach the target of 0.1% of GNI by the end of the decade. 

Second, we are strongly supportive of the establishment of a peace building commission (PBC) at the UN by the end of this year, as instructed in the outcome document of the Summit. Peacekeeping operations (PKO) mandated by the Security Council have been one of the most significant undertakings by the United Nations.  However, too many post-conflict societies have fallen back into conflict once the peacekeepers left. Obviously, systematic efforts are needed to stabilize the peace and assist the society in making a solid transition toward normalcy.  Hence, the need for a more vigorous peace building efforts by the UN.  Korea’s own experience amply demonstrates the need for sustained cooperation and assistance from the international community for a post-conflict society to make the transition to peace and prosperity.  Currently, we are actively engaged in the discussions in New York on how the Commission should be constituted and mandated.  Our view is that willing and able members, such as the Republic of Korea, should be given due opportunity to serve on the Commission. 

Third, we wholly support the creation of a Human Rights Council under the General Assembly.  The Council would replace the current Commission on Human Rights, which is a functional commission under the Economic and Social Council.   The UN machinery on human rights should rightly be elevated to the same level of profile and importance as peace and development.  However, the issue is a sensitive one, and the diplomats in NY have much to work out in terms of the formation and work of the Commission.  We very much hope for an early conclusion to their work, in a way that clears the air of the politicization and divisiveness that has discredited the UN’s discussion on human rights in recent years.  The work must be guided by a recommitment by all UN members to the original ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The Republic of Korea is committed to human rights and democracy, at home and abroad.  We remain a strong supporter for the continuing mission of the UN to support democracies and human rights and the rule of law around the world. 

Fourth, on the reform of the Security Council, we have long sustained the position that if the goal is to enhance its accountability, representativeness and effectiveness, then the best option is to increase the number of elected seats on the Council, without any addition of permanent seats.  Ours is a principled position, and not one in favor or against any particular country.  The issue has been the source of much division at the UN during the past year.  The best way forward, we believe, is to foster broad-based consensus on this vital issue.    

Fifth, we fully support the UN management reforms, as initiated by the Secretary-General and endorsed in the outcome of the World Summit.  The credibility and integrity of the system has been damaged by a series of mismanagement and corruption cases in recent years, not least of which is the oil-for-food scandal.  These may have been isolated incidents.  But the general perception is that they are symptomatic of deep-seated systemic issues of an organization designed for simpler times.  The system must be reformed and revitalized for these much more complex and challenging times.  The goal, as I see it, should be strengthened accountability and oversight, higher performance and ethical standards for staff, and greater authority and responsibility for the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the Organization.          

Sixth, on terrorism, we fully joined in the strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as clearly stated in the outcome of the World Summit.  The Republic of Korea is a party to all 12 international terrorism conventions in force.  Furthermore, we have been among the first to sign the 13^th treaty, that is, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as soon as it was opened for signature last month.  We continue to actively take part in the UN efforts to conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as promptly as possible.   

Seventh, the proliferation of WMD is among the most pressing international security challenges.  The Republic of Korea is fully committed to the global non-proliferation regime, and is an active participant in global and regional efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction.  Thus, we are disappointed that the outcome of the World Summit was silent on this issue.  After years of stalled negotiations in the field of disarmament, including at the 4^th review conference on NPT in April this year, we had very much hoped that the Summit would provide a breakthrough.  Unfortunately, the gap between the hardened views of the major players was simply too wide for an agreement to be reached even at the Summit.  But we have not lost heart.  We remain steadfast in doing what we can to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime, including by joining the call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and actively seeking a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through the Six-Party Talks.  We also look forward to the next opportunity for the international society to come together to advance the global non-proliferation agenda.   

At this juncture, I would like to brief you on the latest developments concerning the Six Party Talks since the Joint Statement was adopted on September 19^th.  We are now making preparations for the next round of the Talks, in close consultation with the other parties.  The head of our delegation, Deputy Minister Song Min-soon visited the US last week to meet with his counterpart, Assistance Secretary Christopher Hill, and other key officials, to discuss how to implement the Joint Statement and make progress at the next round of the Talks.  We plan to have similar consultations with China, Japan, and Russia.  Ambassador Li Bin of China is scheduled to visit Seoul at the end of this week, following his visit to Pyongyang last week.     

During the latest consultations in Washington DC, we presented our concept of a roadmap for the implementation of the Joint Statement.  The US also provided us with the status of their internal discussions on the implementation negotiations.  The two sides will continue to closely consult in the lead-up to the fifth round of the Talks in Beijing, expected to take place in early November.

Through these consultations, we hope to substantiate the content of the Joint Statement, and to rationally interlink the actions to be undertaken by the parties based on the principle of “mutually coordinated steps” towards a comprehensive implementation of the Joint Statement.  At the same time, it is important for all parties to maintain the momentum in the negotiations and to build confidence by taking positive actions.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

To some, the failure of the World Summit to make progress on WMD non-proliferation and other cases of deadlock at the UN are an indication that the global body is ineffectual on the critical issues of the day.  Indeed, during the Cold War era, that had frequently been the case.  With the big powers playing out their rivalry in the global forum, the UN had been marginalized and unable to actively perform many of the roles that its founding fathers had prescribed.  Few expected it to do any better.  However, we need only to think of the rich and diverse body of global norms that the UN has produced over the last six decades to realize that deadlock has been the exception rather than the norm for the UN. 

Furthermore, freed from the constraint of the Cold War global order, the UN is now taking charge, and the accomplishments are being noted.  As an example, in the area of peace and security, a recent study sponsored by five governments and reported in the media shows that armed conflicts have declined by more than 40% since 1992, and the number of international crises fell by more than 70% between 1981 and 2001.  The biggest reason, the study points out, is the UN’s expanding role in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace building activities.  Indeed, the challenge now for the UN is too much expectation rather than too little.  

The high expectation can be the source of another kind of criticism launched against the UN: that it is all about talk with little action.  But without talk and discussion among all interested countries on what action to take, there can be no action to speak of, or one that has wide support.  Indeed, the fundamental nature of the UN is talk - a process of inter-governmental deliberation where words are the means to narrow gaps and forge agreements. With countries arguing from their own positions, progress is necessarily slow.  On a day-to-day basis, little seems accomplished.  But the longer-term view makes clear that there is progress for sure.  The primary responsibility for action called for by the agreements so reached lies with individual governments, and the blame for inaction should also fall primarily on individual governments.

The Republic of Korea is a firm believer in the deliberative democracy of the United Nations and a faithful implementer of its agreements.  We are a relatively young member of the global organization, having joined only in 1991.  Only 23 out of 191 member states are younger.  Since joining, however, we have become actively engaged in all areas of its work, and our presence can be found in many corners of the vast UN terrain.  

No other country would harbor greater affection for and trust in the global organization as the Republic of Korea.  The country’s own evolution during the past six decades has been achieved in close ties with the United Nations.  The birth of the Republic was the result of UN-sponsored elections that created the first government in 1948.  A few years later, the fledgling democracy was saved from communist aggression by allied forces fighting together under the UN banner.  After the war, when the country lied in total ruin, it was the UN-led assistance for reconstruction that brought us back on our feet. The following decades of economic development were also generously assisted by the United Nations and other international organizations.  In our struggle for democratization, we took inspiration and guidance from the values of human rights and democracy that the UN stood for.  Now a thriving market economy and maturing democracy, the Republic of Korea stands as a shining example of success for the ideals that the UN has striven to achieve around the world. 

Thus indebted to the United Nations in so many ways, the Republic of Korea aspires to do what it can to strengthen and reform the global body so that it may effectively deal with the challenges of the 21^st century.  Our unique accomplishment in economic and social development enables us to play a bridging role between developed and developing countries: our experience in democratization, between mature democracies and transitional societies aspiring towards democracy. 

Having managed a volatile cease-fire on a divided peninsula for many decades, and now taking the lead to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and consolidate the peace on the Korean peninsula, we are an active agent for peace and security.  As a founding member of APEC in 1989 and this year its host, Korea is a leading force for prosperity and economic growth in the region.  We have also been actively contributing to inter-regional cooperation.  We took part in the founding of ASEM for Asia-Europe Cooperation in 1996, and hosted the third ASEM summit meeting in 2000.  In 1999, we joined in the launching of EALAF (East Asia-Latin America Forum), now FEALAC (Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation), and currently serves as its East Asia Regional Coordinator.

Furthermore, Korea has vigorously pursued bold reform and innovation in all sectors of national life in recent years.  In May this year, we hosted the 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government, in collaboration with the Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) of the UN Secretariat.  Korea has much to share with those who seek to make the UN a more vibrant and reliable organization.  In this context, we are seriously considering proposing an able candidate to become the next Secretary General of the UN.   

Distinguished guests,

The world is becoming more and more integrated as globalization deepens in the 21^st century.  Collective deliberation and action, in matters of peace and security, development and human rights, are increasingly needed for the integration to be smooth and beneficial to all.  The UN has much work ahead as it enters the 7^th decade.  The Republic of Korea will play its part and more, for the success of the UN in its endeavors to become a more vibrant and effective organization for the 21^st century.

Thank you.