He persuaded the European Union and the United States to allow continued UN oversight in Kosovo while gradually permitting self-governance – all without triggering dangerous confrontations with the two states which oppose its breakaway, Serbia and its close ally, Russia.
In Myanmar setzte Ban trotz des erbitterten Widerstands des Militärregimes die Behörden unter Druck, humanitäre Hilfe ins Land zu lassen, nachdem Zyklon Nargis das Land im letzten Jahr verwüstete.