Who is the Secretary General of the U.N. today? What country is this person from?

Question

What does the Secretary General do? Give a couple examples of his recent activities.

Answer 1

Ban Ki-Moon, who's from South Korea.

The secretary general acts as a spokesman for the UN, and is a de-facto leader. Franklin D. Rossevelt wanted the leader to be more of a "global moderator" but this was decided against.

The secretary general cannot be a national of a permanent security council member - so they cannot be from the US, Russia, China, UK or France. One is selected from a different continent each time - so there can't be one from Asia next time. An unofficial qualification for the post is at least conversational standard in French and English. They're usually someone who's relatively obscure, so as to limit controversy.

Answer 2

Ban Ki-moon , Republic of Korea

-involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations

other jobs/positions: worked for the Foreign Ministry’s United Nations division

First Secretary at the ROK’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Director of the UN Division at the ministry’s headquarters in Seoul

Ambassador to Vienna

Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization


click here:
http://www.un.org/sg/sgrole.shtml
for his role