“I am pleased that the Security Council has selected António Guterres as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, and he has my heartfelt congratulations – this is a very good choice!

I hope the General Assembly will also give António Guterres a lot of support and a strong mandate for his work at the head of the United Nations.

I know and value António Guterres as an outstanding and very dedicated UN High Commissioner for Refugees. We have worked together very closely in recent years, always in a spirit of mutual trust.

Given all his experience and his whole personality, I am certain that he can live up to the great responsibility of being the face of the United Nations and giving it a voice.

In a world out of joint, the United Nations is more important than ever. António Guterres can confidently rely on Germany’s support.”