Antonio Guterres resumes office as 9th UN Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres has resumed office as the 9th Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Guterres in his first message as the UN Secretary-General urged the world “to put peace first”.

“On my first day as secretary-general of the United Nations, one question weighs heavily on my heart,” he said.

“How can we help the millions of people caught up in conflict, suffering massively in wars with no end in sight?

“Civilians are pounded with deadly force. Women, children and men are killed and injured, forced from their homes, dispossessed and destitute. Even hospitals and aid convoys are targeted.”

He said the new threat of global terrorism affects everyone.

Guterres also said leadersand governments should strive to overcome their differences.

“On this New Year’s Day, I ask all of you to join me in making one shared New Year’s resolution: Let us resolve to put peace first,” he said.

“Let us make 2017 a year in which we all – citizens, governments, leaders – strive to overcome our differences.

“From solidarity and compassion in our daily lives, to dialogue and respect across political divides… From ceasefires on the battlefield, to compromise at the negotiating table to reach political solutions…

“Peace must be our goal and our guide… But peace depends on us.

“I appeal to you all to join me in committing to peace, today and every day.

“Let us make 2017 a year for peace.”

Guterres served at UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) from June 2005 to December 2015.

He takes over from Ban Ki Moon whose 10 years tenure elapsed on Saturday.

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