Diplomats say UN Security Council to hold first coronavirus talks Thursday

7 April 2020, 8:25 am

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Diplomats say that the UN Security Council will on Thursday hold its first meeting on the coronavirus pandemic — by videoconference — after weeks of divisions among its five permanent members.

Last week, exasperated by the back-and-forth that has paralyzed the council, including between China and the United States, nine of the 10 non-permanent members formally requested a meeting featuring a presentation by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The meeting will be held behind closed doors at 3:00 pm EST on Thursday.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon participating, via videoconference, in a UN Security Council discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, March 30, 2020 (courtesy Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN)

The New York-based Security Council has been teleworking since March 12 as the new coronavirus spreads rapidly in the city.

Last week, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution calling for “international cooperation” and “multilateralism” in the fight against COVID-19 — the first text to come out of the world body since the outbreak began.

— AFP