Bahrain participates in UN Asia-Pacific Group online meeting

Manama, Apr. 28 (BNA): In light of Bahrain chairing the UN Asia and the Pacific Group in April, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, hosted the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, through a video conference. Alrowaiei hailed the extraordinary efforts exerted by the UN to combat the coronavirus pandemic, which requires unprecedented international cooperation. He also noted the Secretary-General’s plan to address the potentially devastating socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, in addition to launching the global push to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines, which shows that preserving human rights is the focus of COVID-19 response. The UN Secretary-General gave a speech in which he informed the members of the group about the global response to the epidemic and the role of the UN in alleviating the impact of this pandemic, especially with regard to efforts in Asia and the Pacific, noting that this epidemic is much more than a health crisis, as it affects societies and economies, which makes achieving the SDGs more urgent. Guterres also mentioned that landlocked developing countries and small island developing states in Asia and the Pacific that are already facing challenges in trade, access to technology, infrastructure or social services are the most vulnerable, noting that a large proportion of the United Nations sustainable development programs will be modified and expanded to suit the needs related to COVID-19, in close cooperation with countries, donors and partners. The UN Secretary-General pointed out the adaptation of peacekeeping operations and special political missions to work under the new circumstances, calling on Member States in this regard to maintain the security of UN personnel and facilities, and to ensure that borders and ports remain open to UN shipments and personnel. He also requested facilitating the movement of supplies, and providing continuous access to medical facilities, stressing that sharing information, mobilizing resources, activating partnerships and teamwork are vital factors in combating this epidemic and repairing the negative consequences of its outbreak.