UN Day

The United Nations was created in 1945, which makes today the 62nd anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter that created the international organization. In Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message today, he notes that the world has become multilateral, and thus, the need for the UN is just as strong as the day it was created. However, he also notes that the Millennium Development Goals will not be attained unless efforts are doubled, especially in Africa. The text of the Secretary-General's message is available here.

The Secretary-General took office in January this year. He is from South Korea, the first South Korean to run for the office, and he is the eighth Secretary-General. His term will expire on December 31, 2011, upon which time he will be eligible for reappointment. Ban has taken particularly strong views on global warming, Darfur and Iraq. In a White House meeting in January, Ban urged President Bush to take steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In March this year, while taking part in the first stop of a tour of the Middle East, a mortar attack hit just 260 ft from where Ban was standing. The United Nations had limited its role in Iraq after its Baghdad headquarters was bombed in August 2003, but Ban stated that he hoped to find a way for the UN to do more for Iraq. Finally, he has repeatedly identified Darfur as the top humanitarian priority of his administration. To learn more about Ban, visit the UN home page.