A non-binding resolution of the General Assemblyl of the United Nations, approved on Friday, even unexpectedly benefited from the abstention from Ukraine and Hungary, two habitually indefectible supporters of American politics at the UN. Only Israel supported US objections against the remaining 169 states participating in the vote.
–
The resolution considers the “role of a comprehensive immunization against Covid-19 as a common health good, by preventing, containing and halting transmission, in order to end the pandemic, as soon as safe, quality vaccines are available, effective and affordable “.
The Cuban amendment calls for the suspension of economic or financial sanctions imposed unilaterally by one country against another, which aggravate the effects of the pandemic. The amendment adopted almost unanimously underlines, in particular, the need for “urgent lifting of unjustified obstacles in order to guarantee universal, timely and equitable access and fair distribution of all essential, quality, safe and effective technologies and health products and including its components and precursors that are necessary to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. ”
The amendment also calls on member countries to refrain “from enacting and applying any unilateral economic, financial or commercial measures that do not comply with international law and the United Nations Charter” – something that the US and Israel have rejected in view of not only sanctions against Cuba but also against Iran.
The United States also raised objections to two paragraphs of the resolution that defended women’s “sexual and reproductive health”.
The debate on the resolution also saw an exchange of accusations between the United States, which accused China of hiding the truth about the pandemic, and Chinese diplomat Xing Jisheng, who cited Bob Woodward’s recent revelations about an interview with Trump , to ask, rhetorically: “Who is hiding the truth?”
– .
