UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reacts in his hotel room in Brasilia June 17, 2011, just as he hears the news that the UN Security Council has voted to recommend him as a candidate for another term as Secretary-General. The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that Ban be elected for a second term beginning in January 2012.  [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Friday "adopted by acclamation" a resolution to nominate incumbent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term, the Council president told reporters here.  

Noel Nelson Messone, Gabon's UN ambassador whose country holds the rotating Council presidency for the month of June, made the announcement to the press here after the 15-nation Security Council met behind closed doors to consider the recommendation for the appointment of the UN secretary-general.

The "Security Council adopted by acclamation the following resolution: Security Council, having considered the question of the recommendation for the appointment of the secretary-general of the United Nations, recommends to the General Assembly that Mr. Ban Ki-moon be appointed secretary-general of the United Nations for a second term of office from January 1, 2012 to  December 31, 2016," Messone said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends a news conference in Brasilia, June 17, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Under the UN Charter, the secretary-general is appointed by the UN General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The full UN General Assembly is expected to hold a formal vote next week, UN officials said.    

Last week, Ban, a South Korean national, put himself forward for re-election as the secretary-general.

Ban's current term expires on December 31, and he has no declared rival for the post. The 67-year-old former South Korean foreign minister succeeded Kofi Annan in January 2007.    

His re-election bid won support from the five permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, who have the veto power on the UN body.  

Equal parts diplomats and advocate, civil servant and CEO, the secretary-general is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable.

The UN Charter describes the secretary-general as "chief administrative officer" of the world body, who shall act in the capacity and perform "such other functions as are entrusted" to him or her by the major UN agencies -- the Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and other UN organs.

The Charter also empowers the secretary-general to "bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security."

One of the most vital role played by the secretary-general is the use of his "good offices" -- steps taken publicly and in private, drawing upon his independence, impartiality and integrity, to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading. The good offices of the secretary-general have used in the wide range of situation, including Cyprus, East Timor, Iraq, Libya, the Middle East, Nigeria and West Sahara.

Each secretary-general defines his role within the context of his particular time in office. Demands for UN peacekeeping have grown at an unprecedented rate in recent years, leading Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to propose basic structural reforms to enable the organization to keep peace.

Since taking office as the UN chief, Ban has been particularly outspoken on climate change, describing it as "a defining issue of our time." He has also promoted establishment of the new, hybrid peacekeeping mission in Sudan, and taken steps to bring the UN disarmament machinery into closer relationship with his office -- as the new United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

Ban's priorities for action include: Africa, particularly the situation in Sudan and the tragedy in Darfur; the situation in the Middle East; non-proliferation and disarmament; achievement of the development goals that emerged from the 2000 Millennium Summit; climate change; human rights and UN reform.