US Prevents Adoption of UN Resolution to Lift Illegal Sanctions to Combat COVID-19

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)

A UN General Assembly resolution introduced by Russia to lift illegally imposed US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and other nations was rejected by the Trump regime.

Its sanctions war is all about imposing maximum pain and suffering of the populations of targeted countries.

Under temporary US General Assembly rules at a time when meetings aren’t being held to prevent spreading COVID-19 infections, a single country’s objection can prevent adoption of GA resolutions.

Russia’s UN Mission explained “the need for international solidarity (to combat) COVID-19 and believes that the” UN and its agencies “must play a key role in this process.”

Russia introduced a draft resolution for UN member states to unite in combatting the virus in the spirit of mutual cooperation to address a global crisis.

To defeat COVID-19 that respects no borders, Russia calls for “providing assistance to the most vulnerable states, especially developing countries; rejection of trade wars and unilateral sanctions adopted without the mandate of the UN Security Council, in order to ensure early access to food and medication; countering financial speculations with essential supplies.”

Russia’s proposal was co-sponsored by 28 UN member states.

The Trump regime pressured its EU, UK, Ukraine, and Georgia vassal states to reject it, along with the US.

Russia is undaunted. It’ll pursue its humanitarian efforts in cooperation with likeminded nations “so that the world could hear the call for practical cooperation on all tracks of combating the pandemic.”

Instead of Russia’s proposal, the General Assembly adopted a watered-down meaningless resolution.

It called for “international cooperation” to combat COVID-19 — except for sanctioned nations on the US target list for regime change.

Separately, Russia’s Foreign Ministry called on belligerents in active war theaters “to immediately stop hostilities, secure a ceasefire, and introduce a humanitarian pause” in the interest of combatting and defeating COVID-19 outbreaks.

Millions of people in conflict theaters have limited or no access to medicines, medical treatment, and other essentials to life.

If COVID-19 outbreaks occur and spread in these countries — especially Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Occupied Palestine, and Donbass, Ukraine — a global humanitarian disaster could follow.

The same is true about crowded refugee camps in various countries in the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, and elsewhere.

Russia’s call for halting hostilities is directed to nations using military force outside their borders, mainly the US, the world’s leading belligerent. All others pale in comparison.

“The Russian Federation will continue its work at the UN Security Council to facilitate the political and diplomatic settlement of regional conflicts based on the UN Charter and the universal norms of international law, and is ready for pro-active cooperation in this area with all parties concerned.”

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

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