Annan passing the baton
TEXT OF STORY
MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Today the UN Security Council is expected to nominate Ban Ki-Moon to succeed Secretary General Kofi Annan. Annan’s term ends in December. Rachel Dornhelm explores the high-profile job and its financial responsibilities.
RACHEL DORNHELM: If the nomination succeeds, South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki Moon will be in charge of a substantial pot says the Global Policy Forum’s Jim Paul.
JIM PAUL: Well the budget overseen by the secretary general is the regular budget of the United Nations which is $1.7 billion this year.
And toss in $5 billion for peace keeping.
While that’s small compared to many nations’ ledgers, Brookings scholar Roberta Cohen says the US has been vocal about wanting someone who will provide strong fiscal oversight. US ambassador John Bolton has supported Ban’s candidacy.
ROBERTA COHEN: Unifying principles of promoting human rights thus far don’t seem to be on the platform, but management techniques do and while that’s important, it’s also important for the secretary general to be a leader.
Cohen points out the South Korean government has raised some eyebrows for its own financial management ahead of the nomination.
Some generous aid packages and gifts — including a grand piano — went to some countries with votes on the security council.
I’m Rachel Dornhelm for Marketplace.
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