Secretary-General Deeply Saddened by Killing of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Former Prime Minister

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the horrific killing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, an act that has profoundly shocked Japanese society in a country with one of the lowest rates of gun crime.  He will be remembered as a staunch defender of multilateralism, respected leader and supporter of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General recalls Shinzo Abe’s commitment to promoting peace and security, championing the Sustainable Development Goals and advocating for universal health coverage.  As the longest-serving Prime Minister, he was dedicated to reviving his country’s economy and serving the people of Japan.

The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to Shinzo Abe’s family and the people and Government of Japan.