Ban Ki-moon re-elected as Secretary-General

PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN General Assembly voted unanimously to give Ban Ki-moon a second term as secretary-general, praising him for strengthening the world body's role and visibility in difficult circumstances.

The 192-member assembly applauded loudly as it adopted a resolution giving the 67-year-old South Korean diplomat another five years at the helm of the UN Assembly president Joseph Deiss banged his gavel and proclaimed Ban's selection by acclamation to a new term starting January 1, AP reported.

Ban announced earlier this month that he wanted a second term. He faced no opposition and was recommended by the Security Council for the new term last week. All regional groups at the UN endorsed him, and their chairs joined in sponsoring the Assembly resolution.

When he took over as UN chief from Kofi Annan, Ban promised to push for peace in the Middle East and Sudan's Darfur region. He said he also wanted to restore the UN's reputation after scandals over the UN oil-for-food program to help Iraqi civilians and corrupt procurement officials.

But peace in the Middle East and Darfur remain elusive, and so does a climate change deal.

In addition, there are new issues to tackle, including uprisings across the Arab world, and the continuing fallout from the global economic crisis that has deepened unemployment and poverty.