New York-SANA
Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Dr. Bashar Al-Jaafari, stressed the necessity of lifting the unilateral Western coercive economic measures imposed on Syria, especially after the spread of the new Corona virus in the world, noting that the continued imposition of these illegal measures undermines the basic principle that the United Nations calls for, which is solidarity and collective cooperation In the face of the threat of this epidemic.
Al-Jaafari said during a session of the United Nations General Assembly today via video to discuss the best ways to mitigate the economic and social effects of the new Corona virus "Covid 19" that Syria suffers from exceptional circumstances related to the negative economic and social effects of the terrorist war that has lasted for more than nine years, which was accompanied by an economic blockade and coercive measures Economic unilateral imposed on the Syrian people by some countries, noting that these measures directly affect the ability of the main economic and service sectors in Syria to perform their tasks effectively, especially in the areas of health and Basic services, energy, banking, industry, transportation, communications, internal and external trade, in addition to the tremendous pressures that these illegal measures place on the local currency price and to address the high prices and wages of various basic materials and services.
Al-Jaafari stressed that these unlawful measures imposed on a number of countries impede their ability to contain the emerging corona virus and undermine the basic principle that the United Nations calls on a daily basis, which is solidarity and collective cooperation in facing this threat, indicating that the world's population is directly or indirectly affected by the measures. Forced economic unilateral exceeds two billion today.
Al-Jaafari pointed out that the countries affected by the coercive economic measures sent many letters to the Secretary-General, explaining at the individual and national levels, the impact of these illegal sanctions on their capabilities as governments, citizens and economic and social sectors to confront this global health epidemic and these countries requested the United Nations and the international community to assist them And its support in putting an end to this type of economic blockade, and the Secretary-General and various United Nations organizations and bodies have responded to this request, but the efforts of the affected countries and the calls of the United Nations have not received any serious or real response from the governments that It remains determined to continue to impose this type of punitive action.
Al-Jaafari pointed out that the social and economic damages and losses resulting from the spread of the Corona epidemic escalate and multiply in all countries without exception and have become organically linked to the sharp rise in new infections on the one hand and to the strengthening of containment measures and response measures developed by governments at the national, regional and international levels.
Al-Jaafari indicated that the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations issued at the end of last month on behalf of more than forty international organizations and an international body that falls within the framework of the "United Nations Group for Sustainable Development" under the title "joint responsibility and global solidarity ... the collective response to the social and economic effects of Coved 19" called To the necessity of abolishing the sanctions imposed on states to ensure access to food and basic supplies and access to Covid tests 19 and to medical support because this is a time of solidarity and not a time of exclusion, stressing that countries affected by coercive measures are looking more than ever before to The role of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group to translate the content of this United Nations report into facts and actions through concerted action with all countries, without exception, to achieve a comprehensive United Nations response to the Corona epidemic.
Al-Jaafari explained that the “Friends of Funding the Sustainable Development Goals” group that initiated the meeting of the General Assembly today had agreed since 2015 when it unanimously adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda that this agenda constitutes a true long-term test of its capacity for collective solidarity and its desire to reach 2030 without That no one is left behind in the various fields of development and in combating poverty and hunger and achieving prosperity for all the peoples of the world without exception, but today, in the face of the spread of this global health pandemic, it is subjected to a short-term test in which the collective global ability and will is at stake. Access to a shared goal, not a lag behind in the face of this health epidemic and that this goal remains mere words can not be achieved.
Al-Jaafari pointed out that all countries of the world must recognize and acknowledge their need to provide the basic infrastructure and equipment necessary for the health sectors in order to provide prevention, health tests, treatment, food and basic services for all citizens without exception, as well as to enable the economies of all countries to support and finance national plans, procedures and strategies Necessary to ensure the containment and prevention of the spread of the Corona epidemic, calling on international financial institutions to adopt creative and exceptional approaches to work in light of the current difficult circumstances, and to initiate the necessary support to weak economies in Developing countries, especially those facing special circumstances such as conflict or post-conflict situations, and those that suffer from the negative effects of unilateral coercive economic measures.
