Secretariat This is the directorate on UN operations, apart from political decisions. The staff works under the secretary-general, whom it assists and advises. Secretaries-General Ban Ki-moon, South Korea, Jan. 1, 2007 Kofi Annan, Ghana, 1997–2006 Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egypt, 1992–1996 Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru, 1982–1991 Kurt Waldheim, Austria, 1972–1981 U Thant, Burma (Myanmar), 1961–1971 Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden, 1953–1961 Trygve Lie, Norway, 1946–1953