Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya called on the European Union to reconsider the sanctions policy that prevents countries from combating the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, a meeting was held at the UN Security Council on the interaction of the UN and regional organizations.
“I would note the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that we are waging together – individually and in coordination with UN agencies and partners, primarily WHO. Despite this, we regret that the EU is still applying numerous restrictive and coercive mechanisms. We have repeatedly heard assurances from Brussels and other European capitals that these mechanisms are targeted and carefully calibrated. But reality says the opposite”, – he said.
According to him, the application of such measures actually undermines the socio-economic situation in the developing countries affected by the pandemic, thereby seriously worsening the living conditions of innocent people.
“In this regard, the corresponding appeal of the UN Secretary General, voiced at the beginning of the pandemic, is a good signal. We urge the EU to revise its sanctions policy and reach out to the populations of the countries in question and refrain from punitive and coercive measures taken outside the framework of the Security Council”, – Nebenzya said.
The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, who attended the meeting, Josep Borrell, in turn, said that it cannot be argued that EU sanctions create obstacles to the fight against the pandemic.
“Our sanctions are targeted and designed so as not to interfere with humanitarian access. They do not interfere with the delivery of aid, medical supplies and equipment. On the contrary, the EU is among the largest donors of humanitarian aid. We act on individuals, we do not harm the economies of countries”, – he said.
The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations reacted with irony to these words.
“I listened to the high representative when he spoke about EU sanctions and showed strong support for these sanctions. I got the feeling that these sanctions were indeed very humane. I think that after such a defense, developing countries that are not yet sanctioned should lining up to get them – they were presented so humane”, – Nebenzya said.