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GENEVA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency UNHCR warmly welcomed the recommendation by the UN Security Council of its former high commissioner, Antonio Guterres, as next UN secretary-general.
The UNHCR said it was especially happy the world's most senior peacemaker would be somebody who knew the terrible human consequences of war so well.
In a statement received on Friday, UNHCR said it believed Guterres would lead the United Nations with the vision, political skills and deep sense of humanity needed to make an unprecedented push for world peace.
Faced with a surge in the number of people displaced by conflict and persecution, Guterres skillfully managed UNHCR's responses, introducing important reforms to make these more effective, the statement noted.
"During his 10 years at UNHCR, Mr. Guterres managed some of the biggest refugee crises of our times," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
He added that Guterres was a tireless advocate for refugees, the internally displaced and the stateless, defending their rights in the field and at the highest political levels.
"He placed a strong emphasis on finding innovative solutions to help them find safety and a dignified life, as well as on pushing for an end to the conflicts driving so many people from their homes," Grandi said.
The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously decided to recommend Guterres to head the United Nations for the next five years, starting from Jan.1, 2017.
The 15-nation council has delivered its decision to the UN General Assembly to formally appoint Guterres as the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations.
