E-Paper
No super-spreader event: US wants world leaders to address UNGA event virtually
The UN General Debate is slated to begin on September 21 and will run through September 27. On September 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the session physically.
The United States has called on world leaders to virtually attend the upcoming annual session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to prevent the weeklong high-level programme from becoming a super-spreader event amid rising concerns over the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease.
The UN General Debate is slated to begin on September 21 and will run through September 27. On September 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the session physically. This is as per the first provisional list of speakers for the General Debate at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. US President Joe Biden is also scheduled to speak at the event, his first address to the world organisation as the American leader.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has reportedly written to the 193 member states of the UN that as the host country of the UN headquarters, her country bears a “significant responsibility” to ensure the safety of participants and New York residents.
"So too does the Secretariat and President of the General Assembly. We need your help to prevent UNGA 76 High-Level Week from being a super-spreader event,” she further wrote.
Stating that the Covid-19 pandemic continued to pose a significant health risk around the world, Thomas-Greenfield said the Delta variant has “necessitated enhanced mitigation” measures given its virulence among fully vaccinated and unvaccinated persons alike.
With cases and hospitalisations increasing sharply in the US and all counties in New York City currently rated as having the highest level of community transmission, she said, “In light of current health concerns, we will convey to all member states and observers that heads of delegation should consider delivering their statements to the UN General Assembly’s General Debate by video.”
In case delegations choose to travel to New York for the General Debate, the US requested that delegations bring the minimum number of travellers necessary.
So far, 167 heads of state and heads of government and 29 ministers and diplomats are scheduled to address the UN General Debate. About 40 leaders are listed to address the high-level session through pre-recorded statements, including Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa and Nepal.
The 76th session of the UN General Assembly will begin September 14. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid will be president of the year-long session.
The US is also urging member states to address all other high-level events, including those held on the sidelines, virtually.
Thomas-Greenfield said while the UN Secretariat has already communicated some modalities for the high-level week, “I want to make clear our call, as the host country, for all UN-hosted meetings and side events, beyond the General Debate, to be fully virtual".
Parallel meetings and high-level events drawing travellers to New York needlessly increase risk to the community, New Yorkers and other travellers, she said.
“I am particularly concerned regarding the possibility of the UN, through the auspices of the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly, hosting several in-person high level events during high-level week -- possibly to include events on climate change, vaccines, the 20th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Food Systems Summit, and the high-level dialogue on Energy.
“We feel strongly that the General Debate should be the only event held with in-person participation during High-Level Week; the United States is willing to make every effort to make these important events on shared priorities successful in a virtual format,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
She said with a view to ensure safety of UNGA participants and New York residents, the US will significantly limit its in-person delegation travelling to New York and Washington encourages other member states to do the same.
"We must each do our part in reducing the number of activities that would draw travellers to New York City at this time,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
Last year, world leaders had submitted pre-recorded video statements for the UNGA session in September, as heads of state and government could not physically attend the annual gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time in the UN's 75-year history that the high-level session had gone virtual.
(With agency inputs)
