Ban congratulates Obama on election as United States President
5 November 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today extended his congratulations to United States President-Elect
Barack Obama, voicing hope that his election will usher in a new era of multilateralism and enhanced partnership with
the United Nations.
“As Secretary-General of the UN, I look forward to working with the new administration to fulfill our common goals and
enormously important objectives,” Mr. Ban told reporters in New York. “This is, I believe, an historic opportunity.”
He recalled previous statements by Mr. Obama, who was elected last night and will take office next January, in which he
spoke about the strong stake the US has in the UN.
This will be a “good opportunity not only for, not only the United States, but the United Nations as a whole to resolve
all issues through dialogue,” the Secretary-General said, expressing confidence that there will be greater cooperation
between the Organization and the US.
“If ever there were a time for the world to join together, it is now,” he said, pointing to the global financial
turmoil, climate change, reaching the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their 2015 deadline and the
twin food and energy crises.
Mr. Ban told journalists that he met Mr. Obama for the first and only time last year, shortly after taking office as
Secretary-General, when they were seated next to each other on a flight between Washington and New York.
During the half-hour flight, the President-Elect asked the Secretary-General many questions on the world body’s goals
and on issues such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Iranian nuclear issue and UN reform.
“He was very engaging and he knew a lot about the United Nations,” Mr. Ban said, adding that he was very encouraged by
the encounter.
The Secretary-General also congratulated his “good friend,” Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden.
“With a glad heart, I welcome this new era of partnership for change,” Mr. Ban said, noting that he hopes to speak with
Mr. Obama soon, both over the telephone and in person.
ENDS