UNITED NATIONS (Reuters, AFP) – Nanumpa si dating Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres noong Lunes bilang ikasiyam na United Nations Secretary-General.
Papalitan ni Guterres, 67, si Ban Ki-moon, 72, ng South Korea sa Enero 1. Bababa sa puwesto si Ban sa katapusan ng 2016 matapos ang dalawang limang-taong termino. Si Guterres ay naging prime minister ng Portugal mula 1995 hanggang 2002 at UN High Commissioner for Refugees mula 2005 hanggang 2015.
‘’This organization is the cornerstone of multilateralism, and has contributed to decades of relative peace, but the challenges are now surpassing our ability to respond,’’ ani Guterres sa kanyang talumpati sa 193-member General Assembly. ‘’The UN must be ready to change.’’
Ayon sa socialist politician, kailangang tanggapin ng UN ang mga pagkukulang nito at “reform the way it works’’ upang higit na maging epektibo ang 71-taong samahan.
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Inilatag niya ang tatlong prayoridad para sa pagbabago sa panahon ng kanyang termino: work for peace, support sustainable development and improve internal UN management.
“From the acute crises in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and elsewhere, to long-running disputes including the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, we need mediation, arbitration as well as creative diplomacy,” sabi ni Guterres.
“As part of my good offices I am ready to engage personally in conflict resolution where it brings added value,” dagdag niya.
