Ministry Statements & Speeches:
I congratulate my long-time colleague Antonio Guterres whom the UN Security Council has agreed to recommend to the United Nations General Assembly as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Antonio and I met when we were both Prime Ministers, and have worked together as heads of major UN agencies in recent years. Antonio has the knowledge and experience to lead the United Nations well, and I wish him every success.
I deeply appreciate the full support I have had throughout my campaign for the position of Secretary-General from Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, the New Zealand Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a very wide cross section of the New Zealand Parliament and public. Public and governmental support also came from around the world.
To all who supported my campaign, I thank you for your confidence in me and your many messages of support and encouragement.