Six months later - the #UN Security Council decides on recommendation of new UN Secretary-General

Today the UN Security Council made its decision on the name to recommend to the UN General Assembly for the post of Secretary-General.

Their choice is Antonio #Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

I congratulate Antonio and his country on this successful outcome to their campaign.

Antonio and I have known each other since 2000 when we were both Prime Ministers, and we have worked together closely in our UN roles. Antonio has the knowledge, skills, and experience required to be a successful Secretary-General, and I wish him well.

My personal thanks go to the New Zealand Government which gave my campaign very strong support, with the Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade around the world advocating very hard for me. I am also grateful for the broad parliamentary and public support for my campaign at home in New Zealand, and for the strong support I received from many governments and citizens around the world.

My media statement of today is here: https://mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources/ministry-statements-and-speeches/media-statement-from-rt-hon-helen-clark/

And here's The Guardian report on the outcome: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/05/antonio-guterres-next-un-secretary-general?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Be assured that whatever the future holds for me, I will never give up working for the poorest and most marginalized people in our world to get a better deal and for environmental protection - these are causes I have pursued all my life.

The photo shows my husband Peter and I doing what we love to do most in winter - get out into remote places on cross-country skis. I'm looking forward to the northern winter!