New UN Chief António Guterres Delivers First Speech

UN Secretary-General António Guterres. UN Photo / Manuel Elias
UN Secretary-General António Guterres. UN Photo / Manuel Elias

The new UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who assumed office today, delivered his first speech as the head of the international organization.

He appealed to the world for one shared new year resolution – to “put peace first” in the year 2017. “Let us make 2017 a year for peace,” he said.

But how? He – like most other top United Nations officials – did not elaborate. His predecessor Ban Ki-moon and other top UN officials were also doing nothing to stop terrorism and other crimes except issuing armchair statements which were utterly useless and meaningless.

[ Can New Chief António Guterres Make UN a Relevant Outfit? ]

The UN officials are mostly concerned about their own luxurious lifestyles.

Meanwhile, the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump observes that the United Nations has become a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.

Trump was referring to the UN Security Council resolution about the establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.

The resolution decrees that the Israeli settlements have no legal validity, and they constitute a flagrant violation under international law. The resolution also observed that the settlements are a major obstacle to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

Mr. Guterres, 67, was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.

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Rakesh Raman