Geneva:
The United Nations Security Council on Friday held a minute of silence for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated during his campaign, and ex-Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who died in Spain.
Diplomats paused to pay their respects to the two politicians at UN headquarters in New York before debating a resolution on cross-border aid to Syria.
Brazil’s ambassador to the UN, Ronaldo Costa Filho, who chaired the meeting, said councilors expressed their “condolence and deepest condolences” to the families of Abe and Santos.
In a statement, a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “saddened by the horrific murder” of Abe.
“He will be remembered as a staunch defender of multilateralism, respected leader and supporter of the United Nations,” the statement added.
Abe, 67, was killed by a gunman who opened fire at close range as the hugely influential politician gave a campaign speech.
He held this position for one year in 2006 and again from 2012 to 2020.
Santos, who ruled Angola with an iron fist for 38 years, died Friday in a hospital in Barcelona after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government said. He was 79.
Guterres offered his “condolence” to Santos’ family, according to a separate statement.
“During his tenure, Angola became an important regional and international partner and advocate for multilateralism,” said a Guterres spokesman.
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