UNSC backs UN Secretary-General targeted by Israel: He had reacted to the war in the Middle East
The United Nations (UN) issued a statement following Israel's ban on Secretary-General Guterres' entry into the country. The statement called on all members not to obstruct Guterres in the performance of his duties.
AA
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has informed its members that they must 'refrain from any actions that would undermine the work of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.'
Switzerland's Permanent Representative to the UN, Pascale Baeriswyl, made the statement on behalf of the 15 members following a closed-door UNSC session.
Although Baeriswyl's statement did not explicitly mention Israel, it came after Israel declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 'persona non grata.'
Stating that the UNSC members have full support for Guterres and the vital role he plays within the UN, Baeriswyl drew attention to the importance of all members maintaining productive and effective relations with the Secretary-General.
Baeriswyl used the phrase, 'All members must refrain from any actions that would undermine the work of the Secretary-General.'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
GUTERRES HAD BEEN DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA IN ISRAEL
The Israeli administration had announced that it declared UN Secretary-General Guterres, who has been calling for an urgent de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, 'persona non grata' and banned his entry into the country.
It was alleged that in his statement on October 1, the UN Secretary-General did not mention Iran by name regarding the missiles fired at Israel and did not directly condemn Tehran's attack.
In his statement following Iran's missile attack, Guterres had used the phrase, 'I condemn the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East,' and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Following Israel's decision, UN Security Council member states and the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced their support for Guterres.
Meanwhile, it was noted that US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not mention the Secretary-General at all in her speech at the UN, stating instead that 'The United States is in full, full, full support of Israel.'