NEW DELHI: A special session of the UN Security Council (UNSC), the decision making body of the United Nations, on the novel coronavirus called overnight Friday seems to have ended inconclusively but not without the US demanding complete transparency and timely sharing of public data, seen as a swipe at China.
Beijing on its part hit back saying the spread of covid-19 --which surfaced in China last year – was a "global challenge" and required "cooperation," and "mutual support" to be defeated and not by "scapegoating" anyone.
The virus has infected 1.6 million people world over and has claimed 95,731 lives. As of now, the US is the most affected country with over 466,000 infections and a death toll of about 17,000.
The session was called by the current president of the UNSC, the Dominican Republic, in response to requests by nine of the 10 non-permanent members of the Council. And it was the first discussion on the covid-19 pandemic as a threat to world peace and security since the disease surfaced in China in December.
China has blocked the pandemic from being discussed by the UN Security Council for all of March when it held the UNSC president’s post, arguing that the pandemic was not within its mandate.
Washington, on the other hand, insisted that any council action refer to the origins of the virus, much to the annoyance of China. US President Trump had set the tone for his administration’s stand at Thursday’s council meeting this week when he put the World Health Organisation on notice, calling it “China centric” and giving the US bad advice.
“The United States reiterates today the need for complete transparency and the timely sharing of public health data and information within the international community. The most effective way to contain this pandemic is through accurate, science-based data collection and analysis of the origins, characteristics, and spread of the virus,” Ambassador Kelly Craft said early in her remarks on the disease.
China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun, according to news agency Reuters, told the Security Council that it should reject any acts of stigmatization and politicisation.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who briefed the council about the pandemic, described it as the “gravest test” since the UN was founded 75 years ago.
The secretary-general reiterated that the United Nations faces “its gravest test” since the organization was founded 75 years ago from the pandemic and concluded saying: “This is the fight of a generation — and the raison d’être of (the reason for) the United Nations itself.”
The council had met on Thursday at the request of nine of the elected members. After the meeting the council issued a short statement, agreed by consensus, which expressed support for Guterres’ efforts concerning “the potential impact of Covid-19 pandemic to conflict-affected countries.”
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