Security Council Backs Portugal's Guterres As UN Chief

UNITED NATIONS, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 06th Oct, 2016 ) : 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.

During a closed-door meeting, the 15 council members adopted a resolution formally presenting Guterres as their choice to be the world's diplomat-in-chief. Applause rang out in the chamber as the council recommended Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, diplomats at the session told AFP.

The 67-year-old socialist politician, who will be the first former head of government to lead the United Nations, has pledged to revamp the global diplomatic body to boost its peacemaking efforts and promote human rights.

Guterres, who was in Lisbon on Thursday, was due to make a statement at 1600 GMT.

A vote by the General Assembly's 193 member-states to endorse the successor to Ban Ki-moon is expected next week, probably on Thursday.

The unanimous backing for Guterres followed an informal vote on Wednesday during which 13 of the 15 members supported his candidacy and none of the five veto-holding powers 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 permanent council members: Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States.