New U.N. chief Guterres has a sweeping agenda
As he prepares to take the reins of the global body, fostering peace is at the top of his list
The United Nations’ new secretary-general said Tuesday that he was “no miracle maker,” but António Guterres has big ideas to solve problems facing the world.
“Only global solutions can address global problems, and the U.N. is the cornerstone of that multilateral approach,” the former Portuguese prime minister said at U.N. headquarters.
Guterres appealed for peace shortly after he took the reins Sunday: “Let us make 2017 a year in which we all — citizens, governments, leaders — strive to overcome our differences.”
Guterres, 67, succeeds Ban Ki Moon, the U.N. chief for 10 years. Here are four things to know about Guterres, the ninth leader of the world organization: HE WANTS MORE WOMEN AT THE U.N. Before Guterres’ election, the U.N. considered giving its top job to a woman for the first time. Guterres has said “gender parity” is key. In mid-December, he announced he would appoint Nigeria’s environment minister, Amina Mohammed, as his deputy. He also said he would name Brazil’s Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti his chief of staff. A role of senior policy adviser will be given to Kyung Wha Kang of South Korea. In 2016, 33 of the U.N.’s 46 senior roles were held by men, according to the Global Peace Operations Review, an online resource covering peacekeeping and political missions. HE WANTS TO MEET TRUMP ‘AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’ President-elect Donald Trump has called for major changes at the U.N., which he said is “not living up to its potential.” Guterres said last week that it is “certainly in my interest to visit (Trump) as soon as possible.” Meeting with Trump takes on new significance after the president-elect condemned the Dec. 23 Security Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlements on land claimed by Palestinians. Guterres has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Syria’s civil war, describing it to Portuguese TV as an “excellent working meeting.” The Lisbon native will contend with a Trump administration that is skeptical of many U.N.-brokered achievements, including a landmark deal to combat global warming. HE MAY REFOCUS EFFORTS ON REFUGEE PROGRAMS Guterres spent a decade as the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees. During this time, he oversaw the most profound overhaul in the refugee agency’s history and built up its ability to respond to the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II as millions of Syrians and others fleeing war and poverty fled to Turkey and Western Europe. He led the U.N. response to Syria’s civil war, the European migration crisis, the 2014 conflict in eastern Ukraine between separatists and the national government, the Gaza conflict with Israel in 2009 and the aftermath of natural disasters, including the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed 250,000. “He’s not a quiet voice. He’s a forceful outspoken leader on the global stage, and that’s something the U.N. needs,” says Peter Yeo, president of Better World Campaign, which promotes a strong U.S.-U.N. relationship. HE WANTS A ‘CULTURE OF PREVENTION’ Guterres said his priority will be a “surge in diplomacy for peace.” To achieve that, he aims to foster a “culture of prevention.” He wants the U.N. to act as an “honest broker, bridge-builder and messenger for peace” and focus on preventing crises rather than managing them after they occur. For this to work, Guterres said, there needs to be strong partnerships among regional organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector.
“Only global solutions can address global problems. ... Let us resolve to put peace first.”