29 September 2008: Nicholas Haysom, Director for Political
Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, and Robert Orr, one
of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s top aides, highlighted during a news
conference that the role of the UN and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in global
crises is increasingly recognized.

According to Orr and Haysom, the increased
demand for bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General suggests that his and
the UN’s role in global crises, including in climate change and the costs of
energy and food, are now recognized by Member States. Contrasting these crises
with peace and security issues, Haysom said that in these crisis areas, “…the
UN is more readily accepted as a factor of organization and coordination for a
solution to these problems.” [News
Centre Press Release]