UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon bade goodbye to staff and Permanent Representatives at UN
Headquarters in New York on Friday, being his last official
working day as the
UN scribe.
Ban, whose 10-year
tenure comes to an end on Dec. 31, was full of appreciation for the opportunity
to serve.
The outgoing
two-term UN Scribe was also full of praise for the UN staff for their hard work
and was thankful to those who had gathered to wish him well.
“Thank you, thank
you, thank you,” the outgoing secretary-general, who assumed office on Jan. 1,
2007, said continuously, as he waved to his well-wishers, some of whom were
close to tears.
“I thank all of you
the staff and the delegations for your hard work and leadership for humanity.
“I have been
motivated by this commitment and I am proud to call you my colleagues,” the
two-term scribe, whose tenure has been described by many as “eventful”, said.
He re-emphasised
that sustainable development, climate change, gender empowerment and youth,
among other issues, had been at the top of his agenda in his 10-year tenure.
“It has been a
privilege to serve the world’s people.
“And it has been an
honour to serve with you and all our partners, including Member States, civil
society, and many more,” he stressed.
The eighth UN scribe
urged the enthusiastic gathering to “keep believing and working hard” to
achieve the noble goals of the UN and to be a “voice for the voiceless”.
Ban’s last day in
office will be the culmination of a decade of service at the helm of the UN,
during which he sought to mobilise world leaders around a set of new global
challenges, his office said.
“The challenges
ranged from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing
pressures involving food, energy and water.
“In addition, he has
sought to be a bridge-builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most
vulnerable people, and to strengthen the 193-member global organisation
itself.”
For his last day in
office on Dec. 31, Ban would serve as a special guest on Saturday at the annual
New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, according to his office.
He would join New
York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to push the Waterford crystal button and lead
the 60 seconds countdown to the New Year.
Approximately two
million revelers are expected to fill the fabled Square, joined by over 198
million Americans and more than one billion television viewers worldwide.
The revelers would
ring in the New Year watching the historic Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
Drop, according to the event organisers.
Ban began his first
term as Secretary-General on Jan. 1, 2007, and was unanimously re-elected by
the General Assembly to a second term on June 21, 2011.
He will be succeeded
on Jan. 1, 2017 by António Guterres, of Portugal, who was formally appointed by
the UN General Assembly on Oct. 13, 2016.
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