Security Council trying again for first COVID-19 resolution

U.N. Security Council is trying again to reach agreement on its first resolution on COVID-19 since coronavirus started circling global in February, after a lengthy dispute between U.S. and China over mentioning World Health Organization.

A revised draft resolution by France and China was submitted for a vote Tuesday and result is expected to be anunced on Wednesday.

draft resolution backs Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ March 23 call for global cease-fires to tackle pandemic, and demands an “immediate cessation of hostilities” in all conflicts on its nda including Syria, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Congo.

It calls on all warring parties “to eng immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days” to enable safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.

draft resolution states that se measures do t apply to military operations against Islamic State and al-Qaida extremist groups and ir affiliates.

Guterres told a press conference last Thursday that his appeal for a global ceasefire has been endorsed by nearly 180 countries, more than 20 armed groups, religious leers and millions of members of civil society.

“ difficulty is to implement it,” he said.

, secretary-general said he and U.N. envoys are working toger “to establish effective cease-fires and doing everything possible to overcome legacy of long-lasting conflicts with deep mistrust among parties and spoilers with a vested interest in disruption.”

Repeated attempts to opt a Security Council resolution have been stymied over a reference to World Health Organization.

President Donald Trump suspended funding to WHO in early April, accusing U.N. health ncy of failing to stop virus from spreing when it first surfaced in China. He said it “must be held accountable,” and accused WHO of parroting Beijing.

China strongly supports WHO and insisted that its role in calling for global action on COVID-19 be included in any resolution, diplomats said, while U.S. insisted on a reference to “transparency” on COVID-19 and mention of WHO.

draft being put to a vote doesn’t mention eir WHO, a U.N. health ncy, or transparency.

But it does take te of a resolution opted April 2 by 193-member U.N. General Assembly which “calls for intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific kwledge and best practices and by applying relevant guidelines recommended by World Health Organization.”

That resolution recognizes “ unprecedented effects” of pandemic and calls for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat” new coronavirus.

General Assembly opted ar resolution on April 20 urging global action to rapidly scale up development, manufacturing and access to medicine, vaccines and medical equipment to confront pandemic.

While General Assembly resolutions reflect opinion of governments around world, y are t legally binding. By contrast, Security Council resolutions are legally binding.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that a council resolution is very important.

“ Security Council has primacy in U.N. over issues of peace and security,” he said. “A strong unified statement from that body supporting secretary general’s call for a global cease-fire, I think, would go a long way in, hopefully, making a call for a cease-fire a reality.”