Coronavirus: UN General Assembly calls for more cooperation

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While the Security Council, blocked by China and the United States who oppose in a semantic battle, failed to make a single statement on the Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday in New York, 187 countries (out of a total of 193 members) passed a resolution at the General Assembly.

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Almost three weeks after the coronavirus crisis hit Europe and New York, leading to widespread containment, the UN spoke for the first time publicly almost with one voice. Disappointed by the lack of sense of responsibility of China and the United States in the Security Council, the rest of the world has decided to move in force, reports our New York correspondent, Carrie Nooten .

Led by Singapore, Switzerland, Indonesia, Norway, Lichtenstein and Ghana, 187 countries have agreed to ask for more cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus, and for multilateral relations. The resolution approved by consensus also recalls the need to respect human rights during this crisis, and denounces any response marked by racism.

Finally, the text stresses the central role of the United Nations in the health and economic crisis that has become global, and highlights the role of the Secretary-General, approving his repeated calls for ten days. Antonio Guterres , sometimes criticized for his lack of position on human rights, has made numerous recommendations and pleas to create conditions for proper crisis management. A notable position, even if it lacks echo in this context where multilateralism is undermined.

Concurrent resolution

Of the 193 UN member states, only five have not voted for this resolution: Russia, the Central African Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. These countries co-sponsored a "declaration" proposed by Moscow which wanted to compete with the resolution adopted, also speaking of cooperation but including an implicit request for a general lifting of international sanctions. Struck by such measures because of the conflict with Ukraine, Russia considers that they are a brake on the fight against the pandemic. A "declaration" blocked by Washington, Brussels and London.

Unlike the UN Security Council, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are not binding but have a high political value depending on the number of countries which approve them in a vote or co-sponsor them in adoption by consensus.

For its part, and despite several attempts, the Security Council has still not managed to agree to speak with one voice. China and the United States are in particular opposed, Washington wanting to underline the origin of the virus. Nine of the fifteen Council members again requested a meeting on the subject.

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• UN
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