Over 100 high officers will arrive in New York subsequent week to attend high-level UNGA session. (File)
United Nations:
As world leaders arrive to attend the annual UN Basic Meeting session subsequent week amid the coronavirus pandemic, New York Metropolis could have in place amenities that may supply COVID-19 vaccination and testing to all these attending the high-level conferences.
President of the 76th session of the UN Basic Meeting Abdulla Shahid, in his remarks to the opening of the 76th UNGA session Tuesday, mentioned that with a view to recovering from COVID19, vaccinating the world is his high focus and he shall be holding a high-level thematic debate on vaccine fairness with main specialists and world leaders.
“As you’re all conscious, our host nation has made vaccines universally accessible to the entire United Nations household, together with workers and delegates. I’m glad to announce that the town of New York can even offer vaccination and testing sources for all of the attendees of the Excessive-Stage Week” he mentioned, urging UN envoys and delegates to be an “instance” to the world and “do our half in following native necessities.”
Mr Shahid, whereas speaking to the UN reporters was requested if delegations coming for the UNGA have knowledgeable him if they’re unvaccinated because of no entry to vaccines of their nations.
“I’ve no reply to that query. That has not been shared with me what number of are coming with out vaccines however the host nation has knowledgeable me that they are going to have the amenities to vaccinate all who’re attending the Basic Meeting in the event that they so want. It is going to be facilitated.”
Over 100 Heads of State and Authorities and plenty of extra international ministers and delegates will arrive in New York Metropolis subsequent week to attend the annual high-level Basic Meeting session, which had gone digital in 2020 because of the COVID19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden are among the many world leaders who will handle the UN Basic Debate in individual subsequent week. Nevertheless, issues have been raised over the UNGA high-level week changing into a “super-spreader occasion” as delegations come from varied components of the world amid a nonetheless raging pandemic and low vaccination charges in many countries.
Final month, the US, host nation of the UN headquarters, had urged heads of presidency and state and ministers to ship their statements to the UN Basic Debate by video as a substitute of travelling to New York to make sure that high-level week does not not turn out to be a “super-spreader occasion.”
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield had written a letter to the 193 Member States of the UN that because the Host Nation of the UN Headquarters, her nation bears a “important duty” to make sure the protection of individuals and New York residents.
“So too does the Secretariat and President of the Basic Meeting. We want your assist to forestall UNGA 76 Excessive-Stage Week from being a super-spreader occasion,” she had written within the letter.
UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres had mentioned in a press convention final week that the “the Metropolis of New York has supplied to all delegates coming to the Basic Meeting the chance to be vaccinated and we could have right here a… I imply, a system to do it.
He mentioned the Metropolis of New York was cooperating with the UN in a really efficient method and thanked the authorities for it.
In the course of the Basic Debate, solely 4 delegates from a rustic, together with the top of state or authorities, shall be current within the Basic Meeting Corridor.
