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Guterres' nomination "historic moment" for Portugal: president

Xinhua, October 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Antonio Guterres' nomination to become the UN's next secretary general is a "historic moment" for Portugal, the country's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Thursday.

"The United Nations now have a unique opportunity to rethink, to revise, to reform their service to the international community," Rebelo de Sousa told a meeting held by the Supreme National Defence Council in Lisbon.

He reacted with three words: "the first with praise, the second with hope and the third with pride."

Rebelo de Sousa added that he praised his "gleam, intelligence and capacity" to serve the international community.

He is also more hopeful regarding the UN's "renovation" and said he was proud of Portugal.

"For all these reasons it is a historic moment for Portugal," he concluded.

Guterres' nomination was formally approved by the UN Security Council on Thursday. The decision will now be sent to the 193-member General Assembly for final formal approval. Endit