{"id":23772,"date":"2017-01-03T21:40:18","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T21:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=23772"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:54:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:54:57","slug":"guterres-cites-multilateralism-teamwork-as-critical-to-achieving-un-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2017\/01\/guterres-cites-multilateralism-teamwork-as-critical-to-achieving-un-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Guterres cites multilateralism, teamwork as critical to achieving Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ goals"},"content":{"rendered":"

On his first day in office, United Nations Secretary-General<\/a> Ant\u00f3nio Guterres called for teamwork, telling staff at the world body\u2019s New York Headquarters that it is not enough to the \u201cdo the right thing, we need to earn the right to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very important for us to recognize our achievements [\u2026] but we also need to recognize our shortcomings, to recognize our failures and where we are not able to deliver as we should,\u201d he said, outlining<\/a> the multitude of challenges \u2013 ranging from complex conflicts to global terrorism \u2013 confronting the world.<\/p>\n

Mr. Guterres called on the entire Organization for a collective effort to address the shortcomings and underlined the need to reform the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ development system, as well as address bureaucratic constraints that hamper its performance, saying the world body must try and get rid of its \u201cbureaucratic straight jacket.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no miracles [\u2026] and the only way for us to achieve our goals is to work as a team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In his remarks, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ chief also recalled the selection process that culminated with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly appointing him as the ninth chief of the global body in October last year. \u201cI know that the way this selection process<\/a> has been developed has raised a lot of expectations,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis requires a lot of efforts from ourselves but also a lot of dialogue with [Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ] Members States and to overcome the divides that still exist in the Organization,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Mr. Guterres\u2019 first day at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters as Secretary General began with the laying of a wreath at the Memorial Wall in the Visitors\u2019 Lobby.<\/p>\n

Shortly after taking office two days ago, he made an appeal for peace<\/a>. \u201cLet us make 2017 a year in which we all \u2013 citizens, governments, leaders \u2013 strive to overcome our differences,\u201d Mr. Guterres said Sunday morning, urging people to share his New Year’s resolution: \u201cLet us resolve to put peace first.\u201d<\/p>\n

He will serve for a five-year period until 31 December 2021. He was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. He succeeds Ban Ki-moon who served as the Secretary-General from 2007 until 31 December 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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