Sikyong Congratulates Mr António Guterres, Next UN Secretary-General

Mr Antonio Guterres,
next Secretary-General of United Nations.

Tibetan political leader Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today congratulated Mr Antonio Guterres, the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In his letter, Sikyong said: “ I, on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, heartily congratulate you for being elected as the next UN Secretary-General.”

“The UN is the leader of universal peace and the promotion of international cooperation for a better future. Being elected as its Secretary-General is a huge responsibility, especially in the face of the crisis that is currently prevalent in the world.”

“As the former head of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), we admired your persistent appeal to the international community to uplift the prospects of the downtrodden. Your leadership, particularly over the refugee crisis as a fallout of the conflict in Syria, has touched the conscience of the entire humanity.”

“I wish you all the best in your new responsibility and hope that you will carry forward your reputation as a spokesperson of the oppressed and downtrodden. In this regard, I trust you will raise your voice on the issue of Tibet and steer the United Nations towards a peaceful resolution of Tibet issue,” Sikyong wrote.

Mr António Guterres, was a former prime minister of Portugal and former head of UNHCR. He was elected to the UN top job following a straw poll held on 5 October in the UN Security Council.

He emerged as the decisive victor, with 13 votes in his support and two abstentions, with no one voting against him. He will take charge from 1 January 2017 from Mr Ban Ki-moon, the current Secretary-General of UN.

The United Nations has passed three resolutions on Tibet in 1959, 1961 and 1965, voicing “grave concern at the continued violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Tibetans” and calling for “respect of the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people and for their distinctive cultural and religious life.”

By
tibet.net