Ban Ki-moon’s lament: after decade at top, UN chief is disappointed in power-hungry world leaders

US Secretary-General cites Syria as an example of a nation being held ‘hostage’ to the destiny of one man, President Bashar Assad

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during an interview at UN headquarters in New York. Photo: AP

Published: 3:02pm, 14 Sep 2016Updated: 9:54pm, 14 Sep 2016

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he’s disappointed by many world leaders who care more about retaining power than improving the lives of their people — and can’t understand why Syria is being held hostage to “the destiny” of one man, President Bashar Assad.

Nearing the end of his 10 years at the helm of the United Nations, Ban spoke frankly about the state of the world and his successes, failures and frustrations as UN chief in a wide-ranging interview.

Ban is the public face of the organisation but he said that in private leaders see a very different and much tougher side to him.

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency on Monday shows President Bashar al-Assad at a mosque in a government-controlled area of Daraya. Photo: AFP

“People say I have been quiet, and I have not been speaking out about human rights, but I can tell you I have been speaking out (more) than any of the Western leaders” who “are very cautious,” he said. “You have not seen people as fearlessly speaking out as myself.”

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Ban also spoke candidly about his frustration at the way the UN operates.