Ban wants Japan vote in bid for top U.N. post

By Hayami Ichikawa
February 22, 2006
The Asahi Shimbun
Original Source: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200602220160.html

SEOUL--Ban Ki Moon, South Korea's foreign and trade minister, is seeking support of his candidacy for United Nations secretary-general from a country Ban himself has criticized and snubbed. 
Ban indicated to journalists that he hoped Japan would back his candidacy to succeed Kofi Annan, even though he has said he could not support Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council. 
It is desirable (for Japan) to humbly reflect on its history and form a trusting relationship with its neighboring nations before pushing to assume a permanent seat on the Security Council, the 61-year-old career diplomat said. 
Ban's Feb. 14 remarks were made before a group of visiting journalists from the Japan National Press Club's 18 member companies. The group was led by Yoshibumi Wakamiya, chairman of The Asahi Shimbun editorial board. 
Ban said he hoped his candidacy would be considered separately from his stance on Japan's stalled council bid. 
I hope that Japan will consider its support for me in the context of building a future-oriented South Korea--Japan relationship, Ban said. 
Annan's second term ends on Dec. 31, 2006. Under the U.N. Charter, the secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. 
At an earlier news conference, Ban said he would use South Korea's experience as the prosperous half of a divided nation to strengthen the United Nations and reform the Security Council. 
South Korea is a model country that has achieved improvements in peace, stability, economic development and human rights, all of which are United Nations' ideals, Ban said. 
Ban is a key member in the six-party talks between North Korea and five U.N. member states. The two Koreas have been a continued burden on the United Nations. Growing stability on the Korean Peninsula, however, has encouraged the South Korean government to take steps to heighten its international status. Ban's candidacy for the top U.N. post is one such high-profile move. 
South Korea has achieved (political) democracy and become the world's 11th largest economic power. Using our experience, we can be a bridge between developed and developing countries, another official in the foreign and trade ministry said. 
Other candidates from Asia mentioned in the running for the U.N. secretary-general's post include Thailand's deputy prime minister, Surakiart Sathirathai, and former U.N. disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka.(IHT/Asahi: February 22,2006)