The Security Council on Thursday unanimously backed Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal who was the UN’s refugee chief for a decade, to be the next secretary-general.
The 15 council members adopted a resolution formally presenting Guterres as their choice to be the world’s new diplomat-in-chief and requesting that the General Assembly endorse him.
Applause rang out during the closed-door meeting as the council recommended Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, diplomats at the session told AFP.
Speaking in Lisbon after the vote, Guterres expressed gratitude and pledged to work with “humility” to serve “those that are most vulnerable” in the world.
“To describe what I feel at the present moment two words are sufficient: gratitude and humility,” he said in remarks delivered in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
The 67-year-old politician pledge to serve especially “those that are most vulnerable: the victims of conflict, of terrorism, the victims of the violation of rights, the victims of poverty and injustices.”
The General Assembly’s 193 member-states are set to vote next Thursday on endorsing Guterres as the successor to Ban Ki-moon, the former South Korean foreign minister who steps down after two five-year terms on December 31.
Guterres will become the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, but the first who has served as a former head of government.
The unanimous backing followed an informal vote on Wednesday during which 13 of the 15 members supported his candidacy and none of the five veto-holding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States –blocked him.
Speaking in Rome, Ban hailed Guterres as a “superb choice,” saying that “his wide knowledge of world affairs and lively intellect will serve him well in leading the UN in a critical period.”
The outcome however confounded some UN diplomats who did not expect such an outspoken candidate with strong political experience to win support from the five permanent council members.
Source: AFP
