Venezuelan president calls for unity

– Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for the world to fight against “hegemony” and “imperialist ideas” during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s virtual summit.

The UN General Assembly, the annual extravaganza of world leaders’ speeches and roundthe-clock diplomacy, opened yesterday in a quiet hall as a virtual summit addresses the global crisis of Covid-19.

For once, Midtown Manhattan will not be bunkered down in a frenzy of motorcades and there will be no speculation of breakthrough meetings.

In a pre-recorded speech, Maduro, accused by UN investigators of crimes against humanity, denounced “the world of hegemony, the world of imperialism” and insisted on the need to be “united” in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Venezuela supports a multipolar world, a renewed UN system, a system that knows how to enforce international law and protect the people of the world,” he said, condemning US attacks on the World Health Organisation (WHO), without explicitly naming the country.

“This is not the time to insult, to threaten the WHO, it is now the time to unite in its favour,” he said.

“The world defeated fascism 75 years ago. The world will also win against those who seek hegemony, against imperialist ideas, and it will be able to defeat neofascism,” said the socialist leader, whose legitimacy in office is no longer recognised by more than 50 countries.

Maduro is due to deliver another virtual speech before the UN today. – AFP