JUST SAY YES: Politics sully UN pandemic plan

What’s not to like about the United Nations’ plan to hold a summit in December to press for action on the global spread of the coronavirus and its “unprecedented” effects on societies, economies, jobs, and global “trade and travel”? Indeed, the Canada/Azerbaijan-led resolution passed by a 150-0 vote in the body’s general assembly last week. Yet, three countries abstained.

While not explicitly voting against the meeting, which will include pre-recorded speeches by world leaders and a discussion led by World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the United States, Israel, and Armenia all refused to fully endorse it.

Why?

It seems that three proposed amendments to the resolution – one each by the abstaining countries – were all defeated prior to the final vote.

The US would have eliminated a reference to the World Health Organization, which Donald Trump withdrew from over the UN agency’s handling of the pandemic and his allegations that the WHO has been improperly influenced by China.

Meanwhile, an amendment proposed by Israel would have eliminated a reference to UN “observer states,” which include Palestine.

Lastly, the proposed amendment by Armenia would have eliminated a reference to the 120-member Nonaligned Movement, which initiated the call for a special session.

Nevertheless, UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir called the high-level special session “a historic moment and a test for multilateralism” that “will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time.”

“If anything, it is a belated first step,” he said. “This is a time for action – action in memory of the souls lost to COVID-19, action to protect the most vulnerable people who are depending upon us. And action to safeguard our futures. Let us not forget that none of us are safe until we are all safe.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in late October that it is “very frustrating” that leaders of the 20 major industrialized nations known as the G20 didn’t come together in March and establish a co-ordinated response to suppress the coronavirus in all countries. Instead, he said, they went their own ways as infections moved “every way, everywhere.”

“The point of this special session is first of all to bring the membership together and to move forward collectively in fighting the pandemic,” General Assembly spokesman Brenden Varma said after the vote.

In other words, finally, everyone seems to be putting differences aside to work collectively on a plan.

Well, almost everyone.