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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 19 May 2020
WHO bows to calls from countries for independent virus probe

By JAMEY KEATEN and MA- might need to "reassess"
RIA CHENG WHO's role in providing
Associated Press travel advice to countries.
GENEVA (AP) — The World In his opening remarks at
Health Organization the WHO meeting, Tedros
bowed to calls Monday held firm and sought to fo-
from most of its member cus on the bigger troubles
states to launch an inde- posed by the outbreak,
pendent probe into how it saying "we have been
managed the international humbled by this very small
response to the coronavi- microbe."
rus, which has been cloud- "This contagion exposes the
ed by finger-pointing be- fault lines, inequalities, injus-
tween the U.S. and China tices and contradictions of
over a pandemic that has our modern world," Tedros
killed over 300,000 people said. "And geopolitical di-
and leveled the global visions have been thrown
economy. into sharp relief."
The "comprehensive evalu- China, meanwhile, sought
ation," sought by a coalition to divert attention to its re-
of African, European and newed efforts to slow the
other countries, is intended coronavirus pandemic,
to review "lessons learned" In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 file photo, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the with Xi announcing the $2
from WHO's coordination World Health Organization (WHO), addresses a press conference about the update on COVID-19 billion outlay over two years
of the global response to at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Associated Press to fight it. Last year, China
COVID-19, but would stop donated about $86 million
short of looking into con- nations and political snip- why COVID-19 has "spun Tedros said he would to WHO.
tentious issues such as the ing between the U.S. and out of control." "There was launch an independent U.S. National Security Coun-
origins of the new corona- China. Trump has repeat- a failure by this organiza- evaluation of WHO's re- cil spokesman John Ullyot
virus. U.S. President Donald edly attacked WHO, claim- tion to obtain the informa- sponse "at the earliest ap- characterized China's new-
Trump has claimed he has ing that it helped China tion that the world needed propriate moment" — al- ly announced contribution
proof suggesting the coro- conceal the extent of the and that failure cost many luding to findings published as "a token to distract from
navirus originated in a lab coronavirus pandemic in lives," Azar said. Speaking Monday in a first report by calls from a growing num-
in China while the scientific its early stages. Several Re- hours after Chinese Presi- an oversight advisory body ber of nations demanding
community has insisted all publican lawmakers have dent Xi Jinping announced commissioned to look into accountability for the Chi-
evidence to date shows called on WHO Director- China would provide $2 bil- WHO's response. nese government's failure
the virus likely jumped into General Tedros Adhanom lion to help respond to the The 11-page report raised to meet its obligations."
humans from animals. Ghebreyesus to resign. outbreak and its economic questions such as whether He said that since China
WHO's normally bureau- U.S. Health and Human fallout, Azar said the U.S. WHO's warning system for was "the source" of the
cratic annual assembly this Services Secretary Alex had allocated $9 billion to alerting the world to out- outbreak, it had "a special
week has been overshad- Azar said Monday it was coronavirus containment breaks is adequate, and responsibility to pay more
owed by mutual recrimi- time to be frank about efforts around the world. suggested member states and give more."q

U.N. envoy calls for Russia-U.S. talks to help end Syrian war

sides of the conflict — Rus- conflict to a political path facing common threats
sia which has been the key that were lost, and "those from the COVID-19 pan-
backer of Syrian President missed moments were fol- demic and Islamic State ex-
Bashar Assad and the Unit- lowed by renewed vio- tremists, Pedersen stressed
ed States which supports lence and a hardening of that building trust between
the opposition. Pedersen positions among regional key international parties
told the U.N. Security Coun- and international actors." and with Syrians "is essential
cil on Monday that the "We must not repeat this — and could unlock prog-
three countries that have pattern," he said. ress" toward peace.
taken the lead in arranging Pedersen said there is anxi- He then encouraged the
cease-fires in Syria — Assad ety that while violence has U.S. and Russia along with
allies Russia and Iran and somewhat abated at the the others to engage in
opposition backer Turkey moment it could escalate dialogue.
"are key players too." at any time, and deep dis- Ultimately, Pedersen said,
A man carries Syrian Independence flag as Turkish soldiers He said members of a com- appointment that the politi- "there is a need to come
block a road after a nearby explosion outside the city of Ariha, mittee from the Syrian gov- cal process hasn't delivered together to support a re-
in Idlib province, Syria, Tuesday, May 12, 2020. ernment, opposition and tangible improvements for newed effort in a Syrian-
Associated Press civil society who are sup- the Syrian people. led, Syrian-owned, U.N.-fa-
By EDITH M. LEDERER year-old war, saying the posed to draft a new con- "And there is a widespread cilitated political process"
Associated Press two major powers could stitution for the country and sense that international toward a political settle-
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — play "a key role." Geir Ped- the 15 council nations are competition is more promi- ment based on the 2015
The U.N. special envoy for ersen's encouragement to key players as well. nent than cooperation, Security Council resolution
Syria called Monday for Moscow and Washington Pedersen said there have with Syrians paying the that endorsed a road map
talks between Russia and to take a leading role was been too many fleeting price," he told the U.N.'s top to peace including draft-
the United States to help his first public appeal to the opportunities in the past council. With some calm at ing a new constitution and
end the more than nine- rival powers on opposing decades to move from the moment and the world U.N.-supervised elections.q