Israel Matzav

The more things change, the more they stay the same at the UN

There's a new Secretary General at the United Nations. He is former South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-Moon, and yesterday in an interview with the South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh, he stayed true to form by saying that the key to solving all of the world's problems is solving the 'issue' of 'Palestine.' But of course....

"if the issues with the conflicts between Israel and Palestine go well, [resolutions of] other issues in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, are likely to follow suit. I will go meet with the concerned parties as soon as possible."

In other words, the UN will once again focus on Israel and ignore the world's Islamofacist tyrannies.

The interview with Ban was posted on the paper's English Web site Monday. While Ban is true to UN form by drawing the non-existent connection between 'Palestine' and all the world's issues, he is at least somewhat realistic about the UN's low standing in the world's eyes:

Asked how he wanted to be remembered as the top official of the U.N., Ban responded that he wanted to be recalled as a secretary-general who succeeded in restoring confidence in the global organization. "My dream is to become a secretary-general who completely restores the U.N. through reform."

...

Ban reiterated that he will execute what he has promised and lead others by example while he occupies the post. He pledged that he will start his reform on the 38th floor, headquarters of the secretary-general.

"When I said to U.N. staff members that there is no sanctuary from the terms of reform, and no exception for me, either, they looked very strained," Ban said. He said he would make open to the public a list of all of his property and assets in order to set an example for U.N. reform. He said this openness, very common for those working in government in Korea, is new to the U.N., which means to him that reform efforts at the U.N. remain at nascent levels, as compared with South Korea, where the government is making a strong drive in reforming the public sector. "Frankly speaking, I am confident that I will be able to reform the U.N. There is nowhere that holds zero resistance to reform. While I will first push for reform at the upper levels, I will also hold a lot of union-level talks."

One place to start 'reform' that might raise the UN's stature in the West would be to stop the incessant focus on 'Palestine.' Unfortunately, Ban seems unlikely to do that.

As Yogi Berra would say, it's deja vu all over again at the UN.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:57 AM