Two key figures are leaving the United Nations. Secretary General Kofi Annan has stepped down after two terms and has been succeeded by former South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton's tenure has come to an end as well. Their departures will change the world body, offering Tokyo new opportunities to press its international agenda and raise the country's diplomatic profile.
Mr. Annan was a Ghanaian civil servant who replaced Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali after Washington lost confidence in the latter. While the post is high profile, the U.N. secretary general has no authority of his own; he speaks and acts only as a representative of member states. That does not preclude him from being the scapegoat when the U.N. fails to act. Ironically, the loudest critics are most often those governments that have kept him on the tightest leash.
To his credit, Mr. Annan used the U.N. pulpit to focus attention on human rights and the need for development. He repeatedly called attention to abuses of power and endeavored to motivate U.N. members to act. Under his stewardship, the U.N. won the 2001 Nobel Peace Price. Unfortunately, during his term, the results of the investigation of the Iraq oil-for-food program were released and Mr. Annan shared the blame for the corruption and incompetence that was uncovered.