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Brazil, Argentina congratulate Guterres on being named UN new secretary-general

Xinhua, October 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra and her Brazilian counterpart Jose Serra congratulated former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres for being selected as next UN secretary-general.

UN's Security Council on Wednesday unanimously chose Guterres, also former UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2005-2015), as its new head in January.

"I wish him all the best in his position at the head of our UN," Malcorra, who is also one of the candidates for the position, said via her official Twitter account.

Also in South America, the Brazilian government publicly expressed their "great satisfaction" with Guterres' appointment.

Serra highlighted Guterres' possession of "professional qualifications and evident political stature to lead the United Nations."

According to the Brazilian foreign minister, the Portuguese diplomat knows how "to face multiple global challenges, carry out necessary reforms in the organization, including within the Security Council, and the efforts needed to promote peace, sustainable development and human rights."

Serra also expressed Brazil's desire to fully cooperate with the next UN secretary-general.

Guterres, 67, has emerged from six rounds of secret voting and is expected to win in the final formal vote set to take place on Thursday morning by acclamation. UN's current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's term expires on Dec. 31 this year. Endi