UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a visit to Germany in Berlin on December 17, 2020. -

Michael Sohn / AP / SIPA

Antonio Guterres wants to continue his mission.

Aged 71, he told the presidency of the General Assembly and the Security Council that he was "available for a second term as secretary general of the United Nations," his spokesman Stéphane Dujarricle said on Monday.

The current term of the former Portuguese Prime Minister ends at the end of December.

It is now up to the UN General Assembly to formally confirm during the year its extension for a new and final five-year term from 2022 to 2026.

Support from the five permanent members

At this stage, the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and United Kingdom), warned on Friday during a lunch and whose green light is crucial for a new mandate, support him , said diplomats.

During an interview, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson even "warmly congratulated" him for his decision, welcoming "the success of his first term", according to a statement from Downing Street.

It is doing "a fantastic job" and "it would be a mistake to replace it just for symbolic reasons", namely to name a woman for the first time in the history of the United Nations, indicates on condition of anonymity an ambassador of the United Nations. 'a member country of the Security Council.

"He is very thoughtful in his analysis" and "in the way he pleads for new solutions to new problems, climate change, growing socio-economic inequality, gender equality," said the diplomat.

Adept behind the scenes diplomacy

With a solid UN career as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2005-2015), Antonio Guterres, a follower of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, does not however present as Secretary-General a successful record in conflict resolution since taking office. in 2017. For example, he was unable to prevent a genocide in Burma, and Syria and Yemen are still torn by war.

Praised by a number of States, its image also suffers from criticism from diplomats and NGOs who find it too cautious about the defense of human rights.

He defends himself, ensuring to address the subject at international meetings more than some so-called democratic leaders.

Priority of climate issues

In mid-2019, he also made a turning point in his priorities by wanting to be at the forefront of the fight against global warming.

"I do not claim to rule the world" but "my main objective is to make as much noise as possible" against climatic drifts, he explains then.

For this, he traveled to the Pacific to see islands threatened with being engulfed by rising waters or to the Bahamas to find themselves in the middle of ruins caused by a hurricane.

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