UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council today unanimously backed former Portuguese premier Antonio Guterres to be the next UN chief as the world body’s powerful organ recommended to the General Assembly to appoint him for a five-year term.
The 15-member Council held a formal vote here to elect Guterres, 67, a day after it said the former UN High Commissioner for refugees had emerged as the “clear favorite” to succeed Ban Ki-moon, 72, as the 9th Secretary General.
Guterres’s name will now be considered by the 193-member General Assembly for final confirmation. The Assembly’s membership historically chooses the candidate that the Council decides upon.
The Security Council adopted the resolution, behind closed doors as is practice, recommending that the General Assembly appoint Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, 2017. The resolution needed nine votes in favour and no vetoes to pass.
India had congratulated Guterres on his election with Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeting, “Congratulations and Best wishes. India welcomes António Manuel de Olivera Guterres as next Secretary General of @UN.” (AGENCIES)
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