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General Assembly Security Council Seventy-Fourth Session Seventy-Fifth Year Agenda Item 126 Global Health and Foreign Policy

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General Assembly Security Council Seventy-Fourth Session Seventy-Fifth Year Agenda Item 126 Global Health and Foreign Policy United Nations A/74/896–S/2020/532 General Assembly Distr.: General 17 June 2020 Security Council English Original: Russian General Assembly Security Council Seventy-fourth session Seventy-fifth year Agenda item 126 Global health and foreign policy Letter dated 11 June 2020 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General On behalf of the six States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan – I have the honour to transmit herewith the statements issued in Moscow on 26 May 2020 by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member States on solidarity and mutual assistance in combating the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (see annex I) and on support for the call of the Secretary-General for a global ceasefire amid the COVID-19 pandemic (see annex II). I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annexes circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 126 and of the Security Council. (Signed) V. Nebenzia 20-08020 (E) 220620 240620 *2008020* A/74/896 S/2020/532 Annex I to the letter dated 11 June 2020 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General Statement of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on solidarity and mutual assistance in combating the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Moscow, 26 May 2020 The States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), at a time when the whole world is combating the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and States are making exceptional efforts to stop its further spread, affirm the need to work together and take coordinated global action, on the basis of openness, mutual assistance and humanism, in response to the emerging threat. The CSTO member States express their profound solidarity with the countries affected by the pandemic. The CSTO member States call on all members of the international community to put aside political and economic differences and work together, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, by joining efforts to combat the global challenge posed by COVID-19. In this regard, the CSTO member States reaffirm the leading role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in international health cooperation and undertake to provide the necessary assistance to the Organization as the coordinator of international efforts to contain the pandemic. The CSTO member States support the promotion of the draft resolution of the General Assembly entitled “Declaration of solidarity of the United Nations in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”, call on all countries to support this initiative and express their commitment to the principles of cooperation and mutual assistance enshrined therein, namely: • To take a comprehensive, science-based approach in elaborating and implementing measures to slow down the transmission of, reverse and eventually defeat COVID-19 following the rules, recommendations and technical guidance set out by WHO • To cooperate in order to develop and produce vaccines and treatments • To provide technical assistance to the most affected countries and people, and support countries in need using financial and other instruments • To expand global manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing needs for medical products and equipment to cope with the pandemic • To ensure that national protective measures are effective, while at the same time minimizing to the extent possible any negative effects for people, other countries, trade and the global economy • To face global challenges as good neighbours, refraining from implementing protectionist and discriminatory measures inconsistent with the World Trade Organization rules, and prevent financial speculations which hinder access for all to essential health-care services and quality, safe, effective and affordable essential medicines, vaccines, personal protection and food items 2/4 20-08020 A/74/896 S/2020/532 • To cooperate in addressing the disruptions to international trade and the global market uncertainty due to the pandemic, mitigating the damage caused to the global economy by the spread of COVID-19, and promoting economic growth throughout the world • To share reliable and accurate data regarding COVID-19 and the spread of the disease, and prevent the spread of false information and its misuse in the media • Not to allow any stigmatization or discrimination of States, peoples or individuals in connection with COVID-19 The CSTO member States advocate joint action to combat the challenges posed by COVID-19 and reaffirm their support for the resolutions related to combating COVID-19 adopted on 2 and 20 April 2020 by the General Assembly during its seventy-fourth session. The CSTO member States call for the elimination of unilateral coercive measures applied without a Security Council mandate, which limit the ability of countries to combat the pandemic, including by obstructing the delivery of medicines, medical supplies and other essential supplies and hindering the work of humanitarian missions. The CSTO member States note the impact of the pandemic on the maintenance of international peace and security, express concern about the risks of the virus spreading in countries affected by armed conflict whose health systems are in need of rehabilitation and support, and underscore the timeliness of the call of the Secretary - General for a global ceasefire. The CSTO member States will continue to coordinate closely and make joint efforts in international forums with a view to elaborating effective collective measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 20-08020 3/4 A/74/896 S/2020/532 Annex II to the letter dated 11 June 2020 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General Statement of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on support for the call of the Secretary-General for a global ceasefire amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic Moscow, 26 May 2020 We, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, express our solidarity with and support for the call of the Secretary-General for an immediate and global ceasefire in all corners of the world in the wake of the threat posed by the spread of a new type of coronavirus disease – COVID-19. In a public health emergency of international concern in which the majority of countries are exposed to a new type of virus, the disease affects everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, social origin, nationality, religion or political opinion, and the most vulnerable pay the highest price. A large number of people affected by ongoing conflicts and natural disasters, including women and children, have been rendered homeless and destitute, with no access to basic hygiene products or modern medicine. In the face of the pandemic, we firmly believe that the global community must first and foremost focus on substantive dialogue and joint action to ensure that practical measures are taken to combat COVID-19 and its consequences. We express our profound concern about ongoing armed conflicts and incidents in which civilians are in immediate danger or under serious threat, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. We consider the use of unilateral coercive measures and sanctions to be unacceptable. We believe that it is crucial to coordinate corridors for the delivery of vital assistance to all those in need. There can be no obstacles or barriers to saving human lives. At the same time, we are convinced that, in the current context of the coronavirus pandemic and the measures being taken to combat it, calls for an immediate and global ceasefire cannot apply to efforts to counter the relentless activities of international terrorist organizations designated as such by the Security Council. Furthermore, attempts by such organizations to assume the functions of legitimate governments in the territories under their control should not result in any shift away from their designation by the Security Council as terrorist, nor in their obtaining the status of legitimate participants in political processes. The international community must maintain its focus on the global threat of international terrorism, and relevant national and multilateral efforts to combat that scourge must continue to be strengthened. We believe that it is imperative to overcome differences, restore trust, establish cooperation and jointly counter the common threat to the global community – COVID-19 – in order to effectively ensure international security. We call on all States of the world, organizations and parties to conflicts to heed the call of the Secretary-General and take prompt steps to that effect; to promote an immediate moratorium on hostilities around the world; to advocate the unity of the international community, the lifting of trade barriers and the need to provide assistance to countries with economies in transition and developing economies to effectively counter the novel coronavirus disease; and to reaffirm their readiness to continue to work collaboratively to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and eliminate its negative consequences. 4/4 20-08020 .
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