General Assembly Sixty-first session Item 101 of the preliminary list* Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Security Council Sixty-first year Identical letters dated 13 July 2006 from the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council * A/61/50 and Corr.1. Referring to the letter from the President of the Security Council to the President of the General Assembly regarding the selection of the Secretary-General, dated 2 June 2006, I have the honour to inform you of the nomination by the Government of the Republic of Korea of H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, as a candidate for the position of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Throughout a career spanning more than 37 years, Minister Ban has provided distinguished service both to the Government of the Republic of Korea and on the international stage. His vision for the world is rooted in the extraordinary experience of the country, where the United Nations and the international community were instrumental in maintaining peace and security and promoting democratization and rapid economic development. He has worked hard to put this vision into practice, bringing about greater reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula through bilateral and multilateral diplomatic efforts. He has nurtured longstanding ties with the United Nations, contributing to its work throughout his career, particularly as Chef de Cabinet to the President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly in 2001-2002. It is the firm belief of the Government of the Republic of Korea that Minister Ban is eminently qualified to provide able leadership in the pursuit of the necessary United Nations reforms, based upon his successful reform initiatives at the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the past three years. A more complete biographical note (see annex) is enclosed herewith. I would greatly appreciate if you could circulate this letter and its annex as a document of the Security Council and bring it to the attention of all members of the Council. In consideration of the role of the United Nations General Assembly in appointing the Secretary-General, I will also be informing the President of the General Assembly of Minister Ban’s nomination. (Signed) Y. J. Choi Permanent Representative Annex to the letter dated 13 July 2006 from the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council Ban Ki-moon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Republic of Korea Ban Ki-moon, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea since January 2004, brings to his post 37 years of distinguished service both in national government and on the global stage. He is the candidate of the Government of the Republic of Korea to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, succeeding Mr. Kofi Annan, who completes his term at the end of December 2006. Rising through the ranks of the Foreign Ministry during the past four decades, Minister Ban has represented a divided nation that has emerged from the total destruction of war to become a thriving democracy and market economy. His guiding vision has been that of a peaceful Korean peninsula playing an expanding role for peace and prosperity in the region and the world. Humbly accepting the nomination by the Government of the Republic of Korea for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations, Minister Ban builds upon the deep affection and hope that the Korean people have long placed in the United Nations and aspires to infuse the global organization with forward-looking leadership and dedication. Minister Ban’s first overseas posting was to New Delhi, where he was able to acquire first-hand experience of development issues. His bilateral assignments also include two terms at the Republic of Korea Embassy in Washington, D.C. In 1990-1992, he occupied one of the most important and challenging positions at headquarters as Director-General of American Affairs. In 1995, he joined the top management of the Ministry as Deputy Minister for Policy Planning. Since then, he has played a key role in adapting the Foreign Ministry to the changes in the domestic and international circumstances of the post-cold war era. He was appointed National Security Advisor to the President in 1996. He became Vice Minister in 2000. His most recent assignment was as Foreign Policy Advisor to the President. As Deputy Minister in 1996, he was one of the key players as the Senior Officials Meeting leader for the Republic of Korea in the founding of the Asia-Europe Meeting for Asia-Europe cooperation. In 2000, as Vice Minister, he oversaw the preparations for the hosting by the Republic of Korea of the 3rd Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Seoul. His contributions to strengthening regional cooperation have also extended to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which promotes economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. He represented the Korean Government in the APEC Senior Official Meetings in 1995. In 2005, with the Republic of Korea hosting APEC, he chaired the 17th APEC Ministerial Meeting as well as the Republic of Korea Government’s Preparation and Planning Committee for the APEC Summit in Busan. Minister Ban has nurtured longstanding ties with the United Nations, dating back to 1975 during his days as a staff member of the United Nations Division at the home office. The work expanded over the years with assignments as First Secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations in New York, Director of the United Nations Division at headquarters, and Ambassador to Vienna, during which time he served as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in 1999. The experience over the years provided a firm base for his instrumental role in the successful presidency of the fifty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly held by the Republic of Korea, which began on 12 September 2001. As Chef de Cabinet to the President of the General Assembly in an extraordinary year for the global body in the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks, he put his diplomatic and leadership skills to the test in engendering the spirit of cooperation and unity among Member States. From his facilitating role in the prompt adoption by the General Assembly of the first resolution of the session (56/1) condemning the terrorist attacks of 11 September, to his initiative in amending the rules of procedure for the early election of the General Assembly President for a smooth transition from session to session, his efforts were pivotal in turning a year that started out in crisis and confusion into one of the most productive and reform-oriented for the General Assembly. The United Nations is at a pivotal juncture, when far-reaching reforms are being pursued for the Organization to become more relevant and effective for the twenty-first century. The next Secretary-General must come to the post with the leadership skills to sustain the momentum for reform and successfully guide the United Nations system through effective implementation of the reform measures. Minister Ban brings a wealth of hands-on experience in this regard. Under the current Government, the public sector in the Republic of Korea has made reform and innovation part and parcel of its daily work. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the astute stewardship of Minister Ban, whose motto in life and work is leadership by example, has been an integral part of the efforts towards greater openness, accountability and results-based management in government. Minister Ban also has a rich record of accomplishments in resolving differences and building bridges in the regional arena. In particular, he has long been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations. In 1992, he served as Vice-Chair of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission, following the adoption by the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the historic Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Thirteen years later, as Foreign Minister, he played a leading role in bringing about another landmark agreement for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula with the adoption in September 2005 at the Six Party Talks of the Joint Statement on resolving the nuclear issue in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. His proven ability to mediate and forge agreements among parties with diverging views should well serve the post of the United Nations Secretary-General, whose active role is sought in the resolution of disputes and conflicts around the world. Minister Ban received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970. In 1985, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. For his exemplary service to his country, Minister Ban was twice awarded the Order of Service Merit in 1975 and 1986. For his accomplishments as an envoy, he received the Grand Decoration of Honour from the Republic of Austria in 2001. A year later, the Government of Brazil bestowed the Grand Cross of Rio Blanco upon him. In September 2005, the Korea Society in New York honoured him with the Van Fleet Award for his contributions to United States-Republic of Korea friendship. In 2006, he received the Gran Cruz del Sol (Great Cross of the Sun) from the Government of Peru. Minister Ban is married to Madam Yoo Soon-taek. They first met as high school students in 1962. She has been his best partner throughout his many terms. They have one son and two daughters.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/155 sss2 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/524 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/155 sss2 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/524 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-43182 \* MERGEFORMAT 4 \* MERGEFORMAT 5 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-43182 United Nations A/61/155–S/2006/524 General Assembly Security Council Distr.: General 17 July 2006 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-43182 (E) 180706 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0643182*