Ban emphasizes key role of UN in tackling today’s challenges

(Sept.01,2009): The United Nations plays a critical role in addressing the current food, climate and other crises, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. He stressed that Norway is one of the Organization’s strongest partners in tackling global challenges. The financial, flu, fuel and other emergencies cannot be solved by nations acting alone, Ban told reporters after meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. He noted that the U.N. is the forum where, we can all discuss our different agendas towards a very harmonious resolution for the common well-being, and the common prosperity of the world.” Acknowledging that it is natural for the international community to expect the world body to step up in addressing the simultaneous crises, he called for support from all 192 Member States. Ban singled out Norway for its steadfast contributions in the realms of climate change, development, health, human rights and peacekeeping. He said it is among the most dynamic and generous supporters of the United Nations. Ban expressed appreciation for the country’s leadership and initiatives for Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan.
The Secretary-General will travel to Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, to see firsthand the impact of climate change at the Polar ice rim. “I will try to deliver a clear strong message from my visit to the North Pole,” he said, underscoring that only 15 days of negotiations remain before the start of December’s climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, where countries are expected to wrap up negotiations on a new pact to go into effect when the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period ends in 2012.