New York, June 21, 2011. The United Nations General Assembly re-elected by acclamation Ban Ki-Moon as Secretary‑General of United Nations for the term of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016.

Before the plenum of the Assembly, the Acting-President of the Security Council, Ambassador of Gabon Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet reiterated the recommendation that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea be re-elected.

In the resolution adopted by the Assembly, the Council acknowledged the efficient and dedicated service of Ban during his first term at the helm of the Organization (2007-2011) and, on this basis, he was appointed to continue as Secretary-General.

The United Nations Charter stipulates that the head of the United Nations must be elected by the members of the Council and recommended for appointment to the Assembly.

To be appointed by acclamation, Ban obtained the support of all the countries represented at the United Nations.

Ban Ki-moon renews his commitment to leading the United Nations

New York, June 21, 2011. With one hand on the original United Nations Charter, which was signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, Ban Ki‑Moon was sworn in today for a second term at the head of the Organization.

After being saluted by regional groups, the host country and his birth country, Ban Ki-moon renewed his commitment to lead the United Nations, aware of the legacy left by his predecessors and thankful for the trust shown by Member States.

In his words of gratitude, the Secretary-General mentioned the progress made in his first term and gave details of the immediate tasks ahead.

"When we began, climate change was an invisible issue. Today, we have placed it on the global agenda. Nuclear disarmament was frozen in time. Today, we see progress. We are on track to eliminate deaths from malaria and polio. Amid devastating natural disasters, we have saved lives — in Haiti, Pakistan, Myanmar," he said.

Regarding the main challenges of the five-year term beginning in January 2012, Ban mentioned the achievement of the Millennium Development Objectives, the Rio +20 Conference and the high-level meeting on nuclear security to be held in September.

Ban faced no opposition in his candidacy and he becomes the seventh Secretary General in the history of the United Nations to serve two consecutive terms.