Antonio Guterres is all set to serve the United Nations as its Secretary-General for a second term beginning January 1, 2022, as he sees the world at a crossroads with the pandemic posing one of the greatest challenges in recent history.
The seasoned diplomat, appointed to the highest diplomatic post for the second term, says he takes his responsibility with “deep commitment to work together to advance the UN Charter at a time of great peril and promise.”
The former Portuguese leader continues to enjoy the confidence of the majority of the nations despite some serious issues still awaiting the world body’s response like investigation into the pandemic origins. His job has been complicated by big power rivalries and refusal of countries to be frank about the origins of the deadly coronavirus that hit the globe in late 2019, and has killed millions around the world.
The UN General Assembly comprising 193 members formalized Guterres’s appointment to the secretary general’s position after the Security Council’s unanimous backing for him to continue the tough job as the world faces multiple threats like conflicts, poverty and the pandemic.
“We are at a crossroads, with consequential choices before us. It can go either way: breakdown or breakthrough. Breakdown and perpetual crisis — or breakthrough leading to a greener, safer and better future for all,” Guterres told reporters.
“I will do everything in my power to push for breakthroughs,” he said.
At the same time he saw some promises for progress on shared challenges.
“There are reasons to be hopeful. The pandemic has revealed our shared vulnerability, our inter-connectedness and the absolute need for collective action.
“Our biggest challenge — and at the same time our greatest opportunity — is to use this crisis as a chance to turn things around, to pivot to a world that learns its lessons, recovers fairer, greener and more sustainably, and forges ahead with much more effective global cooperation to address global concerns.”
Climate change, joblessness, and unavailability of vaccine to fight COVID-19 amid sweeping spread of the Delta form of the virus, deteriorating human rights situation and chaos from festering conflicts would be among the major challenges as Guterres seeks to unify a divided world.
