Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom

On May 27, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom.

The officials discussed the results of the 73rd World Health Assembly, the main body governing the WHO, held on May 18–19. Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s support for the WHO’s work aimed at coordinating the efforts of the member states to overcome the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). He also spoke about Russia’s aid to its partner countries to relieve the pandemic and its impact.

The prospects for further cooperation between Russia and the WHO were brought up as well as ways to increase the effectiveness of global cooperation in healthcare. It was noted that, in accordance with the standards of the UN and the WHO, the international community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic would be evaluated to implement the member states’ consensus resolution adopted at the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly.

Moreover, the developments in Syria were discussed with an emphasis on the measures taken by UN specialised agencies, including the WHO, in order to improve the humanitarian situation in the country and help counter the spread of the coronavirus, which must be implemented in accordance with the main principles of humanitarian aid, including coordination with the Syrian government.

Tedros Adhanom thanked the Russian side for its continuous many-year support of the WHO and noted Russia’s complex approach to countering the pandemic as well as its successes in this sphere.