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Antonio Guterres 'super choice' for UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon says

"Number of displaced people worldwide exceeds 50 million: UN report .. June 20, 2014"

Updated about 3 hours ago


Photo: Antonio Guterres served as head of the UNHCR
from June 2005 to December 2015. (Reuters: Pierre Albouy, file)

Related Story: Former Portuguese PM set to be next UN secretary-general
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-06/security-council-agrees-on-portugals-guterres-next-un-chief/7907178

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Map: United States .. http://www.google.com/maps/place/United%20States/@38,-97,5z


United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the nomination of former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres as his successor.

"I know Guterres very well and consider it a super choice," Mr Ban told reporters in Rome after a meeting with the Italian president.

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"His experience as Portuguese prime minister, his wide knowledge of world affairs, and his lively intellect will serve him well in leading the United Nations in a crucial period."
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The UN Security Council formally nominated Mr Guterres early on Friday (AEDT), recommending that the 193-member General Assembly appoint him for five years from January 1, 2017.

The General Assembly is likely to meet next week to approve the appointment of Mr Guterres, 67, who would replace Mr Ban, 72, of South Korea.

Mr Ban will step down at the end of 2016 after serving two terms.

'Two words: humility and gratitude': Guterres

On Wednesday, the Security Council unanimously agreed in a 'closed door' vote that Mr Guterres .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-06/security-council-agrees-on-portugals-guterres-next-un-chief/7907178 , who served as the UN's high commissioner for refugees until December last year, should succeed Mr Ban as the UN's chief.

Video: Professor John Langmore discusses the UN's choice candidate. (The World)

By tradition, the job of secretary-general has rotated among regions — Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe have all held the post.

Eastern European nations, including Russia, argue they have never had a secretary-general and it was their turn.

There has also never been a female secretary-general and more than 50 nations and many others campaigned to elect the first female UN chief.

But Mr Guterres topped all six 'behind closed door' Security Council votes .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-06/security-council-agrees-on-portugals-guterres-next-un-chief/7907178 .. over the past year, despite being a man from Western Europe.

Speaking without notes in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, Mr Guterres praised the Security Council for its swiftness and unity in approving him by acclamation.

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"I have just two words to express my feelings at this moment: humility and gratitude," he said.
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He praised the "intelligence and dedication and commitment" of his rivals for the secretary-general post as well as the Portuguese diplomats who campaigned for him.

Mr Guterres was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 and served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015.

Reuters

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-07/antonio-guterres-%27super-choice%27-for-un-chief-job:-ban-ki-moon/7911400