U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has offered an advisory post to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the World Organization, UN sources confirmed on Wednesday.
As reported by the German Press Agency (dpa), Guterres asked Merkel to chair a high-level advisory board of former heads of state and government.
The board’s primary duties would be to address areas of public interest and make proposals for solutions for global issues such as the depletion of the ozone layer or securing internationally valid regulations regarding aviation safety or world trade.
The advisory body proposed by Guterres is one of the key reform projects in the secretary-general’s second term of office which began in January. According to the secretary-general, the coronavirus pandemic has revealed major shortcomings in international cooperation.
The role of the advisory board would be to give impetus to the renewal of world trade practices and principles. While Merkel has not yet responded to the offer, according to UN sources, it is unlikely she will accept it.
The 67-year-old German politician retired from national politics after 16 years in office last December.
