President Obama Thursday pledged the “full support” of the U.S. to newly elected U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of Portugal.
“We have every confidence that, as a former prime minister of Portugal and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Guterres has the character, vision and skills needed to lead the United Nations at this critical moment,” Mr. Obama said.
The 193 member states of the U.N. elected Mr. Guterres by acclamation earlier Thursday. The 67-year-old Mr. Guterres will take over the job on Jan. 1, when Ban Ki-moon’s second five-year term ends.
Mr. Obama said the U.N.’s work is needed more than ever.
“With tens of millions displaced, U.N. peacekeepers deployed at record levels, climate change already impacting countries worldwide, and extremists targeting innocent civilians, the international community has never relied more on the United Nations than it does today,” the president said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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