Page 2 - Antonio Guterres

'Not optimistic' about possibility of peace talks in Ukraine war: UN chief

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said he believes Russia's war in Ukraine "will go on" and does not see a prospect for serious peace talks in the immediate future. Speaking to reporters during his annual end-of-year conference in New York on Monday, the UN Secretary-General said he strongly hoped that the war would be over by the end of next year as he cited the consequences for Ukraine's people, Russian society and the global economy if a deal is not found. "I am not optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks at the immediate future. I do believe that the military confrontation will go on and I think we will have still to wait a moment in which serious negotiations for peace will be possible, he said. "I don't see them in the immediate horizon and that is why we are concentrating our efforts on other aspects, including in relation to increasing the efficiency of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, studying the possibility of adding new components to that initiative such as

UN chief to convene 'no-nonsense' climate ambition summit in Sept next year

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday announced that he will convene a no-nonsense climate ambition summit in September next year where countries will have to come with credible and new action plans, with no room for back-sliders, blame-shifters or repackaging of announcements of previous years. Addressing journalists at his end of year press conference here, Guterres said climate change is an area where good news can be hard to find. We are still moving in the wrong direction. The global emissions gap is growing. The 1.5-degree goal is gasping for breath. National climate plans are falling woefully short, he said. Guterres said that going forward, he will keep pushing for a Climate Solidarity Pact, in which all big emitters make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade in line with the 1.5-degree goal and ensure support for those who need it. There is no doubt that without it, the 1.5-degree goal will soon disappear. I have pulled no punches on the imperative for a

UN chief Antonio Guterres strongly hopes for Ukraine war to end in 2023

The United Nations chief expressed strong hopes that the Ukraine war will end in 2023 and on other global hotspots condemned the Iranian government's crackdown on demonstrators, urged all countries to fight terrorist threats from the extreme right and called on the international community to tell Israel's new right-wing government that there is no alternative to the two-state solution. In a wide-ranging end-of-year news conference on Monday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he sees no prospect of talks to end the war in Ukraine in the immediate future and expects the already escalating military conflict to continue. But he called for everything possible to be done to halt the most devastating conflict in Europe since World War II by the end of 2023 -- which he strongly hopes will happen. On other issues, Guterres urged Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to include all ethnic groups in the government, restore girls' rights to education at all levels and women's rights to work, and to

Strong possibility of UNSC expansion, not sure about veto power: UN chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the possibility of enlarging the Security Council is now seriously on the table but expressed pessimism over the issue of right of veto being addressed. But of course, the central questions are related to the composition of the Security Council and to the right of veto. Now this is a matter for member states, the Secretariat has no influence in these negotiations, Guterres said. Guterres was responding to a question during his end of year press conference on UN Security Council reform to make the UN body more fit for purpose to deal with crises such as the Ukraine war. I think that the during our General Assembly session in September, for the first time I heard from the United States and from Russia clearly the indication that they were in favour of an enlargement of the number of permanent members of the Security Council, Guterres said. He added that there was a proposal from France and UK some time ago for some restriction

Not optimistic about peace talks in Ukraine war in near future: UN chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he is not optimistic" about possibility of effective peace talks in the Ukraine war in the immediate future and voiced concern that the military confrontation will go on. "I am not optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks at the immediate future. I do believe that the military confrontation will go on and I think we will have still to wait a moment in which serious negotiations for peace will be possible, Guterres said Monday. Guterres was responding to a question on whether he sees any opening at all for peace talks in Ukraine at his end of year press conference. I don't see them in the immediate horizon and that is why we are concentrating our efforts on different other aspects, including in relation to increasing the efficiency of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, studying the possibility of adding new components to that initiative such as ammonia exports, accelerating the exchange of prisoners of war especially

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EAM Jaishankar discusses India's G20 leadership with UN chief Guterres

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has discussed with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres working together on G20, which is being led by India

Guterres, Jaishankar to unveil Mahatma Gandhi's bust at UN headquarters

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the premises of the UN headquarters in New York today

UN chief calls for de-escalation in tensions along India-China border

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the de-escalation in tensions along the India-China border, days after troops of the two countries clashed in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in minor injuries to some soldiers on both sides. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on Tuesday that Chinese troops tried to "unilaterally" change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector on December 9, but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat by its "firm and resolute" response. When Stphane Dujarric, Spokesperson to the UN Secretary-General was asked to comment on this issue, he said: Yeah, we've seen these reports. We call for de-escalation and to ensure that the tensions along in that area do not grow. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin addressing a media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday said the two sides have maintained smooth communication on ...

Innovation empowers inclusive world for persons with disabilities: UN chief

Innovation and technology can be powerful tools for building an accessible and equitable world for all, including persons with disabilities, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said

UN chief calls for action in 3 areas to save biological weapons' disaster

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for action in three areas to prevent the disaster of biological weapons

Every 11 minutes, a woman killed by an intimate partner or family: UN chief

Ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, the UN chief emphasised the need to address the increasing violence against women across the world

North Korea calls UN chief Guterres 'puppet of US' after missile launch

North Korea's foreign minister called UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "a puppet of the United States" as she slammed the UN chief for joining US-led condemnation of the North's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier issued a statement strongly condemning North Korea's ICBM launch on Friday and reiterating his call on the North to "to immediately desist from taking any further provocative actions." Guterres's statement came after the United States and other countries issued similar criticism of the North's ICBM test that showed an potential to strike anywhere in the continental US. "I often take the UN secretary-general for a member of the US White House or its State Department," North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said in a statement carried by state media. "I express my strong regret over the fact that the UN secretary-general has taken a very deplorable attitude, oblivious of the purpose and principles of the UN ..

UN Secy, COP27 Prez urge nations to deliver through much-needed pacts

To this end, the COP27 Presidency, with the support of UN-Habitat, convened the first-ever Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change at a UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP)

UN chief concerned as divides threaten COP27 negotiations, deadline nears

The UN chief asked nations countries to deliver the kind of meaningful action that people and the planet desperately need. "The world is watching and has a simple message: stand and deliver," he said.

UN chief calls for making roads safe, reduce traffic deaths by half by 2030

One of the best ways to remember and honor the victims is by doing our part to make roads safer around the world

UN chief Guterres urges implementation of peace agreement in Ethiopia

The parties to the conflict have agreed to promote unhindered humanitarian access for all in need in Tigray and neighbouring regions, and facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid workers, AU said

Must avoid division of global economy into camps led by US, China: UN chief

Guterres said ASEAN countries are well placed to bridge this divide, stressing that "we must have one global economy and global market with access for all."

UN chief Guterres voices concern over escalation of violence in Syria

Guterres calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from escalating the situation, said Stephanie Tremblay, an associate spokesperson for the Secretary-General, on Wednesday.

Climate change woes are bad, getting worse: UN weather report

The report titled 'WMO Provisional State of the Global Climate 2022' released at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC on Sunday stated that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since 1993