M'sia-led push for global ceasefire amid Covid-19 gets UN members' support

By New Straits Times - June 23, 2020 @ 5:25pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has marked a significant milestone by garnering the support of 171 United Nations (UN) member states, non-member observer state and observer on its initiative to launch a "Statement of Support to the UN Secretary-General's Appeal for a Global Ceasefire amid the Covid-19 Pandemic".

The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said the call, initiated by Malaysia in collaboration with cross-regional partners such as Bangladesh, Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Japan, Oman, Senegal, Slovenia and Sweden, sent a clear message to the international community on the importance of shared solidarity and compassion to those who were severely affected by hostilities amid the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.

"Malaysia took this initiative as it believes that the UN membership must speak with a unified voice and send a strong political message, one which reaffirms our collective support for an immediate cessation of hostilities in all corners of the world to allow the international community to effectively fight this deadly pandemic," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said the statement of support represented the moral commitment of 171 governments to prevent or stop hostilities and to pursue a peaceful settlement of conflicts during the pandemic, and beyond.

The ministry said the statement aimed to mobilise collective support for the appeal by the UN Secretary-General while underscoring the importance of multilateralism, the rule of law, diplomacy, and the pivotal role of women and youth in efforts to build sustainable peace.

"Although the statement is not legally binding upon any country, it showcases Malaysia's unwavering commitment and continued leadership on global peace and security issues, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter on June 26.

"Malaysia is fully committed to multilateralism particularly in advancing efforts towards global peace, security, and prosperity, consistent with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

"Malaysia also recently led the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and will continue to actively assume its role in the UN on various issues of importance for Malaysia specifically and the international community as a whole." said Wisma Putra.