GUTERRES PLANS TO SEEK 2ND TERM AS UN SECRETARY GENERAL

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has already conveyed his intention to continue in the post to the president of the General Assembly as well as to the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, Kyodo News reported.

The General Assembly appoints the secretary general based on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said the top UN official “is available to serve a second term as UN secretary general, “ if that would be the will of the member-states.” Usually, the secretary general serves two five-year terms.

Guterres, whose term expires at the end of this year, assumed the top UN post in January 2017 after serving as the Portuguese prime minister and as UN refugee chief.

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