MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK supports Ban Ki-moon for second mandate as UN Secretary General

PM David Cameron praised Ban Ki-moon’s “deep commitment to the goals of UN”

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Wednesday his support for Ban Ki-moon's candidacy for a second term as Secretary General of the United Nations. Ban Ki-moon announced his candidacy for re-election on Monday. His first term ends on 31 December 2011.

Mr Cameron said the UN Secretary General had demonstrated a “deep commitment to the goals of the UN” and looked forward to giving him close support and co-operation taking these goals forward.

“I am glad to support Ban Ki-moon in his candidacy for a second term as Secretary General of the United Nations. He has championed and renewed the vital role of United Nations in tackling complex global challenges.

He has demonstrated a deep commitment to the goals of the United Nations – goals which are central to Britain’s values and interests too.

We will continue to give him our close support and co-operation in preventing and resolving conflict; helping the vulnerable in times of crisis; fighting poverty, hunger, ignorance and disease; and promoting prosperity. I welcome his determination to make the United Nations as efficient and effective as possible, and look forward to working with him as he develops the reform agenda“.

The UK is the second permanent member from the UN Security Council to express full support for Ban Ki-moon’s candidacy for a second mandate. The first was United States. The UN Security Council permanent members also include China, Russia and France.

Ban Ki-moon begins next week a round of visits to South America in support of his candidacy. He is scheduled to visit Colombia, Brazil, both non permanent members of the UN Security Council, and Argentina and Uruguay.