Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, has been appointed for a second term

Published on : 06/18/2021 – 4:18 PM

The UN General Assembly confirmed, Friday, June 18, the granting to the former Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, of a second term at the head of the Organization for 2022-2026. Following his appointment, the latter called for establishing “a world that learns” from the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our greatest challenge, which is at the same time our greatest opportunity, is to use this crisis to turn the situation around, to pivot towards a world that learns lessons, which promotes a just, green and sustainable recovery and which shows the way. through increased and effective international cooperation to address global issues, “he said.

“Taking this step will take a real effort to strengthen what works and courage to learn from what does not. It requires that we make prevention and preparedness, broadly defined, a top priority. plan of the international system, ”added Antonio Guterres.

“Learning lessons” from the Covid-19 crisis

In office since 2017, the UN chief was sworn in by promising to act independently of member states or organizations, at a ceremony attended by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, first chief State to pass through the doors of the United Nations for more than a year of pandemic.

The General Assembly had previously approved by acclamation and without a vote a resolution extending the five-year term of Antonio Guterres.

The UN Security Council, at the crucial decision in the appointment process, gave its blessing on June 8 to the reappointment of the former Portuguese Prime Minister, 72, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015.

With AFP