HAMILTON (Canada), Oct 4 – The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expressed support on Wednesday for United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel barred him from entering the country and declared him “persona non grata, ” Anadolu Agency reported.
France’s UN envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, thanked the UN chief for his remarks made at a Security Council emergency session that was convened because of the situation in the Middle East and expressed “full support and trust of France.”
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described Israel’s decision concerning Guterres as “unheard of” and “a slap, not just on the UN, but on all of us (Security Council).”
“We call on the members of the Security Council and the UN to react to this outrageous act,” he said.
Fu Cong from China echoed the sentiments of his colleagues and expressed Beijing’s “resolute support” for Guterres and opposition to Israel’s decision to ban the UN chief.
Malta’s envoy Vanessa Frazier stressed “continued and unwavering support” to Guterres and thanked him “for his continued leadership and moral compass whilst guiding this organization through such difficult times.”
The deputy envoy of Slovenia, Ondina Blokar, hailed the work of the UN and voiced “full support” for it and Guterres.
“We appeal to Israel to reconsider today’s announcement,” said Blokar, adding that “it is high time to strengthen the role of diplomacy and to prioritize peace.”
South Korean envoy Joonkook Hwang also expressed support, and conveyed his “deep gratitude” to the secretary general for “his tireless efforts for peace in the Middle East.”
Switzerland, the current president of the Security Council, expressed “full support” to Guterres, and “the UN in collaboration with other organizations is currently providing humanitarian aid to all civilians.”
Meanwhile, United States envoy, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, notably avoided any mention of Guterres in her remarks.
“The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” she said.
