World leaders call for an end to sanctions

27 Sep, 2020 - 00:09 0 Views
World leaders call for an end to sanctions President Mnangagwa

The Sunday Mail

At the virtual meeting of the 75th United Nations General Assembly, the coronavirus pandemic, US elections, multilateralism, sanctions and geopolitical tensions dominated the agenda.

World leaders addressed an increasingly not-so United Nations. The annual meeting, which normally takes place in New York, was moved online this year because of coronavirus. Here is a summary of what the world leaders said.

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President Mnangagwa

Multilateralism is under increasing threat from the blind pursuit of narrow interest. We must, therefore, strengthen international amity and goodwill as well as uphold mutual respect and observe the sovereign equality of states.

Your Excellences, Zimbabwe is on a new path.

Like other nations in the region, we are facing humanitarian challenges, which, in our case, have been worsened by illegal sanctions, the negative impact of climate change and compounded by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, my administration continues to record notable achievements towards sustainable development which leaves no one behind.

Our macro-economic stabilisation reforms have seen the reduction of our budget deficit to a single digit, as well as a positive balance of our current account, coupled with foreign exchange rate and prices stability.

President Ramaphosa

Cyril Ramaphosa

The current composition of the Security Council does not reflect the world in which we live.

On the 75th anniversary of the UN we repeat our call for greater representation of African countries on the Security Council, and that this be taken up with urgency at the Intergovernmental Negotiations.

It is only through a reformed and inclusive UN Security Council that we will be able to collectively resolve some of the world’s most protracted conflicts.

As we celebrate the founding of an organisation dedicated to freedom and equality, the people of Palestine and Western Sahara continue to live under occupation.

To ensure that no country is left behind, we reiterate our position as the African Union that economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sudan should be lifted to allow their Governments to respond adequately to the pandemic.

We repeat our call for an end to the illegal occupation of Western Sahara and for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Today we battle the fires of a deadly pandemic, of racism and prejudice, of violence, war and extremism and, above all, of poverty and inequality. The order we seek to build must be rooted in solidarity, equality and unity of purpose.

President Kenyatta

Uhuru Kenyatta

The Secretary-General’s recent appeal for a global ceasefire also includes a humanitarian call for the roll-back of international sanctions and to reinforce the efforts of vulnerable, fragile and conflict-affected countries, to deal with the impact of Covid-19.

I state today that Kenya stands behind this initiative. In this connection, I wish to make a special appeal for an end to the economic and commercial as well as financial embargo against Cuba, sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sudan.

The United Nations provides us a platform, a platform to resolve age-old differences and unburden ourselves of these antiquated conflicts.

President Geingob

Hage Geingob

As the world battles the pandemic, Geingob said some member states face more obstacles in combating this virus than others, including those with sanctions imposed on them.

“In support of the pursuit of economic development, unity and prosperity for the sister country of Zimbabwe, I once again call on the lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.”

Geingob said Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa has been pursuing reforms that would enable the people of Zimbabwe to get on a path of sustainable development and peace.

He said Namibia reiterates her deep concern over the continuation of the extraterritorial economic, financial and commercial embargo imposed on the people of Cuba.

President Trump

Donald Trump

In his speech as host nation, US President Donald Trump accused Beijing of spreading what he called “the China virus” and demanded the UN hold it accountable.

He defended his own handling of Covid-19 in the United States where the death toll has passed 200 000.

“We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries,” Trump said in a pre-recorded address to the UNGA that lasted less than seven minutes.

President Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping

By contrast, China’s President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone, calling for enhanced cooperation over the pandemic and stressing that China had no intention of fighting “either a Cold War or a hot one” with any other country.

Xi said attempts to politicise the pandemic should be rejected.

“China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, co-operative and common development.”

Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani promised the next US leader must accept Tehran’s demands, ruling out compromise as Trump vies for re-election.

“We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy,” Rouhani said.

“Any US administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.”

Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an international treaty to prohibit weapons in space and offered Russia’s coronavirus vaccine to UN employees for free.

“Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance. In particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices,” Putin said.

He said the global economic downturn caused by the pandemic renews the need for removing trade sanctions.

Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe would not compromise with the US over Washington’s move to reactivate sanctions on Iran, warning the so-called snapback could undermine the UN Security Council (UNSC) and increase Middle East tensions.

“We will not compromise on the activation of a mechanism that the United States is not in a position to activate on its own after leaving the agreement,” Macron said.

“This would undermine the unity of the Security Council and the integrity of its decisions, and it would run the risk of further aggravating tensions in the region.”

Moon Jae-in

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in called for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang.

“In the face of the Covid-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own,” Moon said. — Aljazeera/Sunday Mail.

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