Guterres vows to serve 'most vulnerable' with 'humility'

"To describe what I feel at the present moment, two words are sufficient: gratitude and humility," Guterres said in a brief speech to the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon.

Guterres, 67, was making his first remarks following the Security Council's unanimous decision recommending him to the General Assembly as the 9th Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In remarks that were streamed live, Guterres said he was "moved" when the Security Council decided in "unity and consensus" and "in a very quick way" to select him as the successor to Ban Ki-moon.

"I hope this represents a symbolic moment, a moment in which the Security Council enhances its capacity to act in unity and consensus, creating the conditions to decide timely in relation to the dramatic problems of our time," he said.

He said he also feels humility on being chosen as the next Secretary-General. "Humility when facing the dramatic problems of today's world, and humility that is needed to serve, and especially to serve those that are most vulnerable: the victims of conflict, of terrorism, the victims of the violation of rights, the victims of poverty and the injustices of this world, and also the humility needed to recognise the inspiration that comes from so many workers of the UN and its partners that are doing everything they can in the most dangerous areas of our world," he said.

Guterres expressed "gratitude" to the members of the Security Council for the "confidence" they expressed in him as well as to the General Assembly and all UN members for "having decided an exemplary process of transparency and openness" to select the world's top diplomat.

He also expressed gratitude to his colleagues and the different candidates that have "shown with their competence, intelligence, capacity an enormous dedication that contributed a lot to the credibility of the UN."

He stressed that his name has only been recommended to the General Assembly and that he is not yet Secretary General.

"The UN has a Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. I want to pay tribute to Ban Ki-moon and appeal to all Member States to strongly support him in his actions, and in his initiatives to make these last months of this work a complete success," he said.