As he prepares to conclude his tenure as United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres wrote today: “As I approach my final appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in this role, I have been reflecting on the array of global challenges facing humanity. In such a difficult era, we must choose hope over despair. We must not abandon our commitment to building a better world for all—now more than ever, such resolve is essential.”
Commentary: Since taking office in 2017, Guterres has served nearly a decade in the role, a period marked by persistent global instability and the outbreak of multiple regional conflicts. As he nears the end of his term, his call for continued perseverance amid adversity underscores the current limitations of the UN system. The repeated bypassing of the Security Council by major powers in launching military actions has eroded the organization’s authority, and many diplomatic efforts toward peace have repeatedly encountered obstacles. Yet this does not imply that the United Nations has lost its relevance—it remains the most inclusive multilateral platform in the world. Guterres’s message serves as a reminder that in times of heightened conflict and disorder, multilateral cooperation is not merely desirable but indispensable.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876922223470603/
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