Algeria Calls for New Multilateral System to Confront  COVID-19 

Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra called on the international community to "lay the foundations of a new multilateral system based on consultative and inclusive global governance" to confront the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Algerian initiative came during a speech delivered by Algeria's FM to the United Nations (UN) general assembly, under the title "Alliance for Multilateralism: Preparing Our Common Agenda," during the ministerial meeting organized on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Lamamra pointed out that "the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many deficiencies in the international system and the mechanisms for controlling it.

He added that, on the other hand, there is an opportunity to collectively think about the way in which the deficiencies can be overcome and the foundations of a new multilateral system based on consultative and inclusive global governance.

Lamamra considered that "the immediate reactions to the virus, unfortunately, gave preference to selfish national behavior at the expense of global solidarity."

He warned that the unfair use of vaccines between developed and developing countries confirmed this unfortunate trend.

In the same context, Lamamra mentioned Algeria's support for the World Health Organization (WHO) and its pivotal role in managing global efforts to confront the "COVID-19" pandemic through various mechanisms.

He stressed that obtaining vaccines and reviewing patent systems to allow technology transfer are some of the essential measures to ensure a faster response to Corona, as well as to emerging and future challenges."

The Algerian Minister noted that there is another existential challenge facing humanity, which "must be addressed urgently," related to the climate crisis and the loss of biopersity.

In this regard, he said that the most recent UN reports, including the reports of the Group of Governmental Experts on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Scientific and Policy Common Ground on biopersity and ecosystem interests, "sound the alarm regarding the consequences of these phenomena for poverty, hunger, health, water and oceans, and other things."