NEW YORK — UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres was sworn
in Friday for a second term as head of the world body, promising to draw on the
lessons of the deadly
Covid-19 pandemic.
اضافة اعلان
"Our greatest challenge - and which is at the same time
our greatest opportunity - is to use this crisis to turn the tide, pivot
towards a world that learns lessons," the former Portuguese prime minister
said as the General Assembly re-appointed him for the 2022-2016 term.
This, Guterres added, would include promoting a "just,
green and sustainable recovery" which shows the way forward "through
increased and effective international cooperation to address global
issues."
In office since 2017, Guterres promised to act independently
of member states and organizations during the swearing-in ceremony attended by
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the first head of state to set
foot in the United Nations building for more than a year because of the
pandemic.
Guterres added that it would be essential to "make
prevention and preparedness - in the broad sense of the words - a top priority
in the international system."
Speaking at a press conference after the ceremony, Guterres
reiterated that "from the many lessons that we learned, the most important
lesson is that alone we can do nothing. The most important lesson is that we
need to rebuild solidarity and trust."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Guterres
saying his country looked forward to "continuing our strong and
constructive relationship" with the secretary-general.
Global issues "require a collaborative, effective, and
results-oriented leader in the United Nations secretariat, and we have that in
Antonio Guterres," Blinken added.
The 193-member General Assembly had approved a resolution
extending Guterres' five-year term, rather than taking a vote.
The UN Security Council, at a crucial stage in the
nomination process, gave its blessing on June 8 to the reappointment of the
72-year-old, who had previously served as
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
between 2005 and 2015.
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