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Praise heaped on Ban for second U.N. term

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's new term in office has so been been met with a warm reception. UPI/Monika Graff
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's new term in office has so been been met with a warm reception. UPI/Monika Graff | License Photo

BRUSSELS, June 22 (UPI) -- The United Nations has played a critical role in world affairs with Ban Ki-moon as its leader, the secretary-general of NATO said Wednesday.

Ban won support from the U.N. Security Council for a second term as U.N. secretary-general. He secured his first term in 2007 ad was re-elected to the post Tuesday by the U.N. General Assembly.

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NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen supported Ban's re-election, saying it is a sign of the growing influence of the United Nations.

"NATO is, and will remain, a close partner to the United Nations in Afghanistan, in the Balkans, in the fight against piracy and, more recently, as citizens across the Middle East forge a new future for themselves and their children," Rasmussen said. "The United Nations has a critical role to play in these historic events, and I am glad that Ban Ki-moon will be at the helm for another five years."

European leaders praised Ban for his role in tackling climate change and fighting poverty.

"He knows that in all three pillars of the U.N.'s work (security, development and human rights), he can count on the European Union's support," added Europe's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton in a statement. "I offer him my warmest congratulations."

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