Address
by H.E.Mr.Gleb A.Ivashentsov,
Ambassador
of Russia,
at
the “Diplomacy magazine” breakfast
in
honour of H.E.Ban Ki-moon,
(Seoul, “Lotte” hotel,
July 4th, 2008)
Your Excellency Ban Ki-moon,
Esteemed Dr. Limb Thok-Kyu,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
There is a good reason for us to be
happy this morning. Thanks to the courtesy of our friend Dr.Limb Thok-Kyu we
have a lucky opportunity to attend a breakfast in honour of an outstanding
Korean, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General.
H.E.Ban Ki-moon is not a stranger to
Ambassadors, accredited in Seoul.
His deep intellect and mild manners left a firm imprint in the memory of each
who had a chance to meet him in the MOFAT of the Republic of Korea
when he headed the Ministry.
The personal history of His
Excellency Ban Ki-moon is inseparable from the modern history of his motherland.
Within last decades the Republic of Korea turned from a poor developing
country into an industrial and trade power of a world scale, she also strives
to establish itself as a strong foreign policy actor of her own right. That
calls for her participation in collective development of measures to confront
global challenges and threats, for non-acceptance of unilateral diktat, double
standards and unjustified use of force, for counteraction to international
terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as for promotion
of global energy security.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Trade of the Republic
of Korea, His Excellency Ban
Ki-moon did a lot for the above. His election as UN eighth Secretary General
proved the recognition by the world community of the constructive role of the Republic of Korea in regional and international
affairs.
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon came to
the United Nations in the time of trial. The role of the UN as a world
organization of the universal legitimacy is growing today. It is in high demand
for promotion of a genuinely equal dialogue by all states of the world, and my
country, Russia,
supports this trend. The history of the last few years has proved convincingly
that unilateral actions in bypass of the United Nations or in violation of the
UN Chapter could only create new most serious problems. It is utterly important
for all to take lessons from that experience and to concentrate the efforts on
all-round support to the UN central role in settling all conflicts and all
crises.
May I once again greet His Excellency
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, and on behalf of all Colleagues of the
Diplomatic Corps of Seoul, as well as on my own behalf, to wish him all success
in his noble activities for the sake of world peace, security and economic
progress, good health, good luck and happiness!