Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza urged on Friday at the United Nations a coordinated response to address COVID-19 within the framework of inclusive multilateralism.
During his participation in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting, Arreaza pointed out that the vaccine is the spearhead in the global effort to overcome the pandemic, and its nature as a Universal Public Good, under accessible, equitable, transparent production, distribution processes, must be the center of initiatives.
“The fact that vaccines are merchandise is inhuman and criminal,” he said.
Likewise, he highlighted that Venezuela recognizes the UN efforts and the leadership of the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the emergency and support developing countries in this process.
“We support the comprehensive implementation of the COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and the Global Fund for Global Access to Vaccines for Covid-19 (Covax) in order to make access more equitable,” he added.
Foreign Minister Arreaza also condemned the “grotesque imbalance” in the distribution of vaccines worldwide, and the irresponsibility of some States, who haven’t fought COVID-19 and have jeopardized the global efforts for the mitigation and immunization against this virus.
“Venezuela is suffering today the consequences of the Brazilian Government’s negligence as it has to face the Brazilian P1 and P2 variants in our territory,” said Arreaza in his statement.
Furthermore, the Venezuelan diplomat expressed his concern about the illegal imposition of unilateral coercive measures that undermine the efforts made by the Bolivarian Government to face the pandemic and prevent the access to medicines, supplies and vaccines in the country.
Arreaza stressed that “even amid the illegal blockade, our Government has managed to pay over 50% of the required amount to access COVID-19 vaccines within the framework of the Covax mechanism.”
Also, he thanked friendly countries and strategic allies, including the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, for their support and supply of vaccines for Venezuela’s free-cost vaccination campaign.
Finally, Foreign Minister Arreaza reaffirmed Venezuela’s will to comply with its commitment in the fight against COVID-19, thus contributing to the United Nations and member states to strengthen a comprehensive, coordinated response.