The National Democratic Institute (NDI) welcomes the news that Antonio Guterres, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Prime Minister of Portugal, was unanimously nominated by the Security Council to become the next UN Secretary General.Last November, Guterres received the Institute’s Democracy Award because of his long-standing commitment to human rights and democratic principles. At the Award dinner, NDI Chairman Madeleine Albright said that Guterres has been “a powerful advocate for those fleeing war or persecution long before their plight gained global headlines...For as he puts it, values which we relinquish when the going gets tough are no values at at all.”Guterres has been engaged in past NDI programs in the Middle East. Institute President Kenneth Wollack noted his political party roots and his past leadership of the international grouping of social democratic parties. “The UN will benefit from the leadership of a respected politician and humanitarian who has dedicated his life to public service.”