Submitting his second annual report on the organization which he heads, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the United Nations must resist tendencies to simply call for action and instead focus on enhancing its own operational capacity.

Released yesterday, Ban's annual report draws attention to an increasing workload for the international body, citing a litany of successes over the past year while appealing for member states to charge the body with an increased ability to deliver concrete results.

"To meet growing needs and high expectations, we must enhance our operational delivery," assessed the Secretary General. "This means concentrating our resources where the Organization can make the biggest difference. We cannot just make promises or call on others to act; we cannot wait for solutions to emerge."

His words seemed to echo the growing number of pleas from Burma activists and interest groups urging the United Nations to act, and not simply issue repeated calls for what it would like to see happen in the Southeast Asian country.

Yet, the 71-page summary of the past year failed to make any direct reference to the situation in Burma and the Secretary General's attempts at facilitating a process of national reconciliation, reform and respect for rights in the country.

Several countries and regions – including Somalia, Cyprus, Kenya, Central African Republic, Nepal and Darfur – were however listed as illustrations of the United Nations' recent successes in diplomatic initiatives and in supporting democratic and peace processes around the globe.

Further, while making direct, and positive, reference to the work of his Special Envoy to Darfur, Ban neglected to make any statement on the progress of his Special Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari.

Opposition groups and activists have been outspoken in their critiques of Gambari's mission since his latest visit to Burma in August, accusing him of failing to live up to his mandate over the course of the last year, specifically in his failure thus far to deliver on a meaningful tripartite dialogue, in ensuring the release of all political prisoners and in his apparent acquiescence to the junta's exclusive roadmap to democracy and plans for a 2010 general election.

Ban, in his annual report, referred to assistance in the establishment of responsible governance, human rights and democracy as pivotal objectives of the United Nations last year and going forward.

"Respecting human rights, providing justice and the rule of law, preventing genocide and delivering on the responsibility to protect, and establishing democracy and good governance are core responsibilities of all Member States and of the United Nations itself," encouraged Ban.

"While democracy has made gains in many regions, there have been important setbacks," Ban went on to caution, "as witnessed by the failure of some States to conduct free and fair elections, the adoption of states of emergency, increased restrictions on the independence of the media, and crackdowns on political and civil liberties."

The world body's top diplomat noted that history shows that ignoring democratic principles can lead to regional and global insecurity.

Regarding the preceding year in Burma, Ban did on multiple occasions call attention to the United Nations' role in assisting in disaster relief following May's Cyclone Nargis.

In the aftermath of a much maligned and perceived belated government-led relief effort to provide aid to an estimated 2 million storm survivors, there were several calls for the United Nations to invoke the principle of Right to Protect, which legitimizes intervention in the internal affairs of a member state.

However, in his report released on Monday, Ban referred to Right to Protect as currently lacking an "institutionalized capacity" and requested member states to try and address this shortcoming in the ensuing 12 months.

"Today, more than ever, thanks to its universal membership and global reach, the United Nations can effect positive global change, making the world a safer, more prosperous and more just place for all people," concluded the South Korean diplomat in his annual assessment.