Spindelegger: "Austria fully backs second term in office for Ban Ki-moon"

Austria favours a re-election of the incumbent UN Secretary General

Vienna, 8 June 2011 - "With Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a tireless champion for the well-being of the world community and a close friend of Austria, is currently at the helm of the United Nations. Our priorities are also on the top of Ban's list, and therefore I have often clearly assured him in the past of Austria's support for a second term in office", was the reaction of Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger to the announcement of Ban Ki-moon that he is willing to continue to serve as a Secretary General of the United Nations for another five years.

Since Ban Ki-moon took office, we have achieved important progress on issues of major concern to Austria. Especially during the country's membership in the UN Security Council in 2009 and 2010, Austria worked closely together with the Secretary General and his Secretariat. "Ban Ki-moon and I share the conviction that the rule of law, the protection of civilians in conflict situations, and the strengthening of the rights of women constitute absolutely essential tasks of the United Nations. Austria will continue to pursue these objectives during its membership in the UN Human Rights Council."

Moreover, the UN Secretary General has proven himself a friend of Austria on several occasions and has significantly contributed toward sustainably strengthening Vienna's position as a UN Headquarter, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized. "As UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has demonstrated great personal commitment to the objectives of the UN for the well-being of the international community in recent years, and especially during the latest conflicts in Côte d’Ivoire and in Libya. Austria will continue to work closely together with Ban Ki-moon in the next five years and shall remain a reliable partner of the United Nations."

Ban Ki-moon has been serving as UN Secretary General since early 2007 and has just announced that he will run for a second term in office. There are no other candidates. 

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