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UN Security Council formally nominates Guterres to be next chief Antonio Guterres: I will serve most vulnerable as UN chief
(35 minutes later)
The UN Security Council has unanimously nominated former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres to be the next secretary general. Antonio Guterres, the man formally nominated to be the next UN secretary general, says he plans to "serve the most vulnerable".
The former Portuguese prime minister said he felt both "gratitude and humility" by the appointment.
He said he would serve the "victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world".
Mr Guterres was unanimously nominated by the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The UN General Assembly is expected to meet next week to approve his five-year appointment.The UN General Assembly is expected to meet next week to approve his five-year appointment.
Mr Guterres, 67, who led the UN refugee agency for 10 years, will take over from Ban Ki-moon early next year. Meet the UN's next secretary general
He said he felt "gratitude and humility" for being nominated and he pledged to "serve the most vulnerable". Why not a woman UN secretary general?
Mr Guterres paid tribute to Ban Ki-moon and called on UN members states to "strongly support him in his actions and his initiatives" in his final months in office. The 67-year-old, who led the UN refugee agency for 10 years, will take over from Ban Ki-moon early next year.
He paid tribute to Ban Ki-moon and called on UN members states to "strongly support him in his actions and his initiatives" in his final months in office.
"I have two words to describe what I'm feeling now - gratitude and humility," Mr Guterres said in Lisbon.
"Humility [is what I feel] about the huge challenges ahead of us, the terrible complexity of the modern world. But it is also humility that is required to serve the most vulnerable, victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world".
'Moral authority'
Speaking earlier, Mr Ban, 72, described Mr Guterres as a "superb choice" to succeed him in the role.Speaking earlier, Mr Ban, 72, described Mr Guterres as a "superb choice" to succeed him in the role.
"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," Mr Ban told reporters during a visit to Rome."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," Mr Ban told reporters during a visit to Rome.
Mr Guterres's nomination was formally agreed by all 15 council members during a closed-door meeting at the UN on Thursday. Mr Guterres's nomination was formally agreed by all 15 council members during a closed-door meeting at the UN.
Afterwards, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Mr Guterres had "great credentials" for the job.Afterwards, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Mr Guterres had "great credentials" for the job.
"He is a person who talks to everybody, listens to everybody, speaks his mind, a very outgoing, open person so I think it was a great choice and I'm glad that we rallied around Mr Guterres," he told reporters."He is a person who talks to everybody, listens to everybody, speaks his mind, a very outgoing, open person so I think it was a great choice and I'm glad that we rallied around Mr Guterres," he told reporters.
British UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Mr Guterres had "a vision and a moral authority and integrity that put him at the top of the league table".British UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Mr Guterres had "a vision and a moral authority and integrity that put him at the top of the league table".
Although Mr Guterres's nomination was widely welcomed, there was disappointment among some campaigners who had hoped for the first female UN secretary general, or a candidate from Eastern Europe.Although Mr Guterres's nomination was widely welcomed, there was disappointment among some campaigners who had hoped for the first female UN secretary general, or a candidate from Eastern Europe.
Mr Guterres entered politics in 1976 in Portugal's first democratic election after five decades of dictatorship.Mr Guterres entered politics in 1976 in Portugal's first democratic election after five decades of dictatorship.
He became leader of the Socialist party in 1992 and was elected prime minister in 1995.He became leader of the Socialist party in 1992 and was elected prime minister in 1995.
As head of the UNHCR refugee agency from 2005 to 2015, Mr Guterres was at the forefront of some of the world's worst refugee crises, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq. As head of the UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, from 2005 to 2015, Mr Guterres was at the forefront of some of the world's worst refugee crises, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq.