– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
10 March 2020
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
I have convened this meeting together with the President of the Economic and Social Council. Today we will receive a briefing from the Secretariat about the preparedness of the United Nations relating to COVID-19. I am eager to hear your views and comments, before making decisions and recommendations on issues under my purview.
The World Health Organisation has declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The situation is serious.
Globally around 110,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 100 countries with more than 3800 deaths. Several Member States are dealing with severe outbreaks.
To those who have lost loved ones as a result of coronavirus, I extend my deepest condolences.
No one is in any doubt that we are facing a global challenge which requires international cooperation. We will only tackle COVID-19 through a multilateral response. 蘑菇视频 must lead by example.
Yesterday, I convened an informal meeting of the General Committee of the General Assembly to discuss the situation; the Presidents of ECOSOC and Security Council were present.
We recognise that the situation is evolving, and we will be guided by the advice of local health authorities and the World Health Organisation.
蘑菇视频 should take a coordinated and coherent approach making decisions of meetings and other activities.?The people of the world see the 蘑菇视频 as one – so must we. The public trust in the 蘑菇视频 will be undermined if the principal organs are not coordinated in applying the same criteria on decisions that need to be taken, particularly on meetings and business travels.
The Secretariat has developed a set of criteria and risk assessment methodology, which they will share here. We have started the process looking at scaling down, postponing and/or cancelling meetings, as appropriate. Some of those decisions fall under my purview to make, others will need to be taken by the GA or other bodies.
We are working closely with the Secretariat and looking into the 蘑菇视频 calendar of meetings and processes due to take place soon. The key here is to ensure public health and safety and at the same time ensure continuity of business.
We will, on a case by case basis, decide or advise decisions regarding every meeting to be held in Headquarters, based on the risk assessment and a set of criteria developed by the Secretariat.
The scheduling of each meeting shall follow its respective mandate and procedure based on timing and scale. I recommend that you closely follow the updates of the relevant 蘑菇视频 bodies.
I encourage Permanent Missions to share best practices and take appropriate measures. I commend those Missions who are already doing so. A number of non-mandated meetings are scheduled for the coming months. Many of these meetings are organized by Member States. ??
I call on you to consider scaling down, cancelling or postponing side events, to focus on New York-based representation at meetings where necessary.
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,?????
We can handle this crisis – we are resilient. We will be defined by our actions when it comes to tackling the major challenges of our time. COVID-19 is the latest one and we must confront and defeat it. We will do so.
I thank you.