Suriname president urges global community to embrace multilateralism in battling COVID-19

Suriname’s new President Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Wednesday urged the international community to embrace multilateralism as “an effective way” to win the battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly Debate, Santokhi also said that multilateralism is the “best defence against future global threats, and to continue seeking effective means to support small and vulnerable nations”.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is, apart from the human toll, turning food supply chains upside down, paralysing economies and eroding consumer purchasing power,” he said virtually, alluding to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) mid-2020 report that “has confirmed what we as leaders and communities have experienced — that the pandemic has unleashed a health and economic crisis unprecedented in scope and magnitude”.

But, despite considerable progress made in global discussions on a variety of matters — from climate change, sustainable development, migration, refugees, terrorism, cyber-warfare to nuclear proliferation, Santokhi said “we have experienced that multilateralism has occasionally come under attack”.

Since the founding of the United Nations 75 years ago, he said the geopolitical field has changed drastically, stating that the UN Security Council membership and its working methods need “a structured evaluation”.

“Can you imagine that we have been elaborating for more than two decades about reform of this main organ?” the Surinamese president asked.

“It is, therefore, fitting to ask ourselves if this organ is still relevant in its current form. Does it answer to the questions of today’s challenges and aspirations?

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Suriname president urges global community to embrace multilateralism in battling COVID-19