UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres officially declared on Monday that he is seeking a second five-year term at the helm of the world body.
Guterres said in a letter to General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir: “It would be my honour to continue to serve the organisation in pursuing its purposes and fulfilling its noble objectives.” '
The former Portuguese prime minister and UN refugee chief was elected by the 193-member assembly to succeed Ban Ki-moon after a hotly contested race in October 2016 that initially included 13 candidates. Guterres took office on Jan. 1, 2017.
“I am available to serve a second term as secretary-general of the United Nations, if that will be the will of member states,” Guterres said in a letter to Bozkir.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres was responding to a letter from Bozkir on Friday asking his “intentions regarding a second mandate".