euronews speaks to Ban Ki-moon ahead of key UN and climate change talks
- 10 years ago
With world leaders descending on New York for the United Nations General Assembly, a host of pressing global crises will likely plague talks.
Since the annual meeting last took place brutal wars in Iraq and Ukraine have engulfed the global stage.
To add to the challenges facing those assembled, will be the outbreak of Ebola gripping West Africa and the continued fighting in Syria.
As the world seeks to come to one table and find some common solutions, the UN’s eighth General-Secretary, Ban Ki-moon will play a pivotal role.
Halfway through his tenure in the post, the South Korean career diplomat is expected to champion climate change as one of the most pressing talking points. He has described the subject as “the defining issue of our time.”
Walking the walk, the UN General-Secretary joined hundreds of thousands of protesters in New York in a recent demonstration calling for action on the issue.
He is also hosting 120 heads of state and government for whats been dubbed a ‘political action forum’ on climate change.
The gathering plans to set out guidelines for further talks next year in Paris, where its hoped new targets will be agreed to help cut the emissions blamed for global warming.
But Ki-moon, in his second term as General-Secretary, may face substantial problems hammering out any meaningful deal, with leaders from China, India and Russia not in attendance.
euronews’ Isabella Kumar sat down the Ban Ki-moon ahead of the dual summits and discussed everything from global terrorism to his personal role in the climate change debate.
The full transcript of this interview in the latest edition of our ‘Global Conversation’ series can be viewed below:
euronews: The world does seem quite a frightening place right now, at the heart of UN mandates is keeping peace and security, do you get the feeling that things are unraveling that they’re spiraling out of control?
Ban Ki-moon: The UN is in the lead in fighting all these challenges including, ISIL, terrorism and addressing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Of course there are many other situations in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Libya, Somalia. It seems that we are living in a world of multiple crises but when the world is united, we can handle these crises. It’s good and encouraging that many world leaders are coming to the General Assembly of the UN. This is the right moment they should demonstrate their leadership. Unity of purpose is very important.
euronews: We asked our global, online audience to get involved in this interview and we’ve had hundreds of questions. We received this question from Dominik Gora who asks: Can you identify the single biggest threat at the moment?
Ban Ki-moon: This General Assembly has three most important crisis issues. First, ISIL terrorism, this is a threat to all humanity. We have to address this one together with a strong major unity and solidarity. Second, climate change, this is a defining issue of our time. We have to address this one to contain the global temperature rise below 2 degree centigrade. Otherwise, if we do not take action now, we will have to pay a much much heavier price and another one, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
These are the 3 most critical, important, serious crises which require urgent action and mobilising massive resources and political will, that’s why we are gathering here today.
euronews: US president Barack Obama said he can use the UN General Assembly to rally more people behind the cause of fighting Islamic State (IS). He says he wants to, quote, degrade and ultimately destroy this group. But do you think it’s actually possible to destroy a group like Islamic State?
Ban Ki-moon: We need concerted, wholehearted support and solidarity to address and tackle this terrorism, therefore we have to mobilise all resources. I appreciate President Obama and the leader of Western Europe like France, United Kingdom or Australia who are really willing to provide their means and of course there are many many others countries who are really willing to do that. If not, I’m afraid that this terrorist element will spread all around the world.
euronews: Would you be prepared to negotiate, you’re the diplomat of diplomats, with Islamic State?
Ban Ki-moon: Now, we have seen the barbarity, tragic, unacceptable, unspeakable behavior by beheading or brutality. So we have to really first address this one. We have to show a strong will of the international community that we will never allow this terrorist element.
euronews: The strategy is so complicated when you face a group like IS. Are you still within your comfort zone when we see a coalition maintaining a military combat mission in Iraq without UN backing?
Ban Ki-moon: In principle the military means is not all there is. If you have seen this four year long Syrian crisis, tragedy, this Syrian tragedy has provided the perfect breeding ground for terrorism to put their roots in there and this is a very dangerous situation a
Since the annual meeting last took place brutal wars in Iraq and Ukraine have engulfed the global stage.
To add to the challenges facing those assembled, will be the outbreak of Ebola gripping West Africa and the continued fighting in Syria.
As the world seeks to come to one table and find some common solutions, the UN’s eighth General-Secretary, Ban Ki-moon will play a pivotal role.
Halfway through his tenure in the post, the South Korean career diplomat is expected to champion climate change as one of the most pressing talking points. He has described the subject as “the defining issue of our time.”
Walking the walk, the UN General-Secretary joined hundreds of thousands of protesters in New York in a recent demonstration calling for action on the issue.
He is also hosting 120 heads of state and government for whats been dubbed a ‘political action forum’ on climate change.
The gathering plans to set out guidelines for further talks next year in Paris, where its hoped new targets will be agreed to help cut the emissions blamed for global warming.
But Ki-moon, in his second term as General-Secretary, may face substantial problems hammering out any meaningful deal, with leaders from China, India and Russia not in attendance.
euronews’ Isabella Kumar sat down the Ban Ki-moon ahead of the dual summits and discussed everything from global terrorism to his personal role in the climate change debate.
The full transcript of this interview in the latest edition of our ‘Global Conversation’ series can be viewed below:
euronews: The world does seem quite a frightening place right now, at the heart of UN mandates is keeping peace and security, do you get the feeling that things are unraveling that they’re spiraling out of control?
Ban Ki-moon: The UN is in the lead in fighting all these challenges including, ISIL, terrorism and addressing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Of course there are many other situations in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Libya, Somalia. It seems that we are living in a world of multiple crises but when the world is united, we can handle these crises. It’s good and encouraging that many world leaders are coming to the General Assembly of the UN. This is the right moment they should demonstrate their leadership. Unity of purpose is very important.
euronews: We asked our global, online audience to get involved in this interview and we’ve had hundreds of questions. We received this question from Dominik Gora who asks: Can you identify the single biggest threat at the moment?
Ban Ki-moon: This General Assembly has three most important crisis issues. First, ISIL terrorism, this is a threat to all humanity. We have to address this one together with a strong major unity and solidarity. Second, climate change, this is a defining issue of our time. We have to address this one to contain the global temperature rise below 2 degree centigrade. Otherwise, if we do not take action now, we will have to pay a much much heavier price and another one, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
These are the 3 most critical, important, serious crises which require urgent action and mobilising massive resources and political will, that’s why we are gathering here today.
euronews: US president Barack Obama said he can use the UN General Assembly to rally more people behind the cause of fighting Islamic State (IS). He says he wants to, quote, degrade and ultimately destroy this group. But do you think it’s actually possible to destroy a group like Islamic State?
Ban Ki-moon: We need concerted, wholehearted support and solidarity to address and tackle this terrorism, therefore we have to mobilise all resources. I appreciate President Obama and the leader of Western Europe like France, United Kingdom or Australia who are really willing to provide their means and of course there are many many others countries who are really willing to do that. If not, I’m afraid that this terrorist element will spread all around the world.
euronews: Would you be prepared to negotiate, you’re the diplomat of diplomats, with Islamic State?
Ban Ki-moon: Now, we have seen the barbarity, tragic, unacceptable, unspeakable behavior by beheading or brutality. So we have to really first address this one. We have to show a strong will of the international community that we will never allow this terrorist element.
euronews: The strategy is so complicated when you face a group like IS. Are you still within your comfort zone when we see a coalition maintaining a military combat mission in Iraq without UN backing?
Ban Ki-moon: In principle the military means is not all there is. If you have seen this four year long Syrian crisis, tragedy, this Syrian tragedy has provided the perfect breeding ground for terrorism to put their roots in there and this is a very dangerous situation a