UN chief ‘deeply’ regrets veto of Palestinian ex-PM as envoy

AFP, DUBAI: UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said he “deeply” regretted opposition to former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the organisation’s peace envoy to Libya, days after Washington vetoed the appointment.“I deeply regret this opposition and I do not see any reason for it,” Guterres said at the annual World Government Summit hosted by Dubai.
Guterres described Fayyad, a former World Bank official with a track record of fighting corruption, as “the right person for the right job at the right moment”.
“It’s a loss for the Libyan peace process and the Libyan people,” he said, adding that the United Nations “needs
to be able to act with impartiality”.
The UN leader on Wednesday had informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Fayyad as a replacement for German Martin Kobler to conflict-torn Libya.
But US ambassador Nikki Haley vetoed the appointment, saying Washington did not support the message the move would send.

 

UN chief deeply regrets veto of Palestinian ex-PM as envoy

AFP, DUBAI: UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said he deeply regretted opposition to former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the organisations peace envoy to Libya, days after Washington vetoed the appointment.I deeply regret this opposition and I do not see any reason for it, Guterres said at the annual World Government Summit hosted by Dubai. Guterres described Fayyad, a former World Bank official with a track record of fighting corruption, as the right person for the right job at the right moment. Its a loss for the Libyan peace process and the Libyan people, he said, adding that the United Nations needs to be able to act with impartiality. The UN leader on Wednesday had informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Fayyad as a replacement for German Martin Kobler to conflict-torn Libya. But US ambassador Nikki Haley vetoed the appointment, saying Washington did not support the message the move would send.