Antonio Guterres: World deeply divided and UN paralysed over conflicts
As he prepares to leave at the end of the year after nearly a decade, the UN chief called for values-based leadership and warned the Security Council is paralysed.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world is "deeply divided" and described the UN's most powerful body as paralysed when it comes to ending conflicts.
Speaking as he prepares to leave office at the end of the year after nearly a decade as head of the organisation, Guterres said that despite his often pessimistic assessments he still sees room for hope and possibilities in the years ahead.
A forceful condemnation and a plea for values
Guterres condemned both the Hamas attack of October 7 and the devastating consequences of Israel's campaign in Gaza. He said the UN must stand for values rather than political trade-offs.
"We strongly condemn the terrible violations of human rights. In a very clear way we condemned the Hamas attack of 7 October. That is unacceptable. But we also condemned the horrible situation that Israel has created in Gaza, with levels of death and destruction unprecedented in the history of the United Nations. In fact, we do not approach politics through some kind of trade, interests. As the UN, we must be an example of values and principles for the whole world," Guterres said.
He warned that the paralysis at the Security Council hampers the international community's ability to stop and prevent conflicts, and urged member states to seek practical ways forward even amid deep divisions.
Photo: press material from the event
