OSCE Chairperson and OSCE Secretary General congratulate ‎António Guterres on his appointment as UN Secretary-General

BERLIN/VIENNA, 6 October 2016 - Following the UN Security Council decision to appoint António Guterres as the new UN Secretary-General, OSCE Chairperson-in Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier expressed their heartfelt congratulations and praised the choice. Steinmeier said he hoped for enormous support in the UN General Assembly, which would give Guterres a strong mandate for leadership of the United Nations.

“I know and value António Guterres as an outstanding and very dedicated UN High Commissioner for Refugees. We have worked together very closely in recent years, always in a spirit of mutual trust,” Steinmeier said. “Given his vast experience and his whole personality, I am certain that he can live up to the great responsibility of being the face of the United Nations and giving it a voice. In a world out of joint, the United Nations is more important than ever.”

OSCE Secretary General Zannier praised Guterres’ vision and commitment. “I look forward to working with António Guterres in his new role, and he can count on the continued strong support and co-operation of the OSCE, as the world’s largest regional security organization under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, in promoting peace and implementing the global agenda.”

Steinmeier underlined that Guterres can confidently rely on the support of Germany and added: “In these troubled times we must also make sure to step up co-operation between international organizations, such as the UN and the OSCE. We are clearly committed to further deepening these links, as holders of the OSCE Chairmanship in 2016 and beyond.”