NEW YORK, October 2, 2024 (WAFA) – Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Wednesday renewed their support to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel declared him “persona non grata,” as reported by Anadolu Agency (AA).
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described Israel’s decision concerning Guterres as “unheard of, and is a slap, not just on the UN but on all of us.”
“We call on the members of the Security Council and the UN to react to this outrageous act,” he added.
Echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, China’s permanent envoy to the UN Fu Cong expressed Beijing’s “resolute support” for Guterres and described Israel’s decision as baseless.
France’s UN envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, voiced the “full support and trust of France” to Guterres.
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.”
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.”
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.”
Amar Bendjama noted Algeria’s “full solidarity admiration and support for the secretary general following the incredible decision of the Israeli occupying authorities to declare him persona non grata.”
“This decision reflects a clear disdain of the UN system and the entire international community for the Israeli authorities,” he said, adding that “no narrative, no truth exists except their own.”
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, US 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.
