BRUSSELS, April 15 -- The decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) triggered on Wednesday a wave of criticism from European nations, as well as a joint call for solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced that he had instructed his administration to suspend funding to the WHO, which he accused of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."
However, the European Union (EU) and various European nations said "no" to blame and division. They have expressed support and commitment to the international organization responsible for global public health.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, tweeted: "Deeply regret U.S. decision to suspend funding to @WHO. There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain & mitigate the #coronavirus pandemic. Only by joining forces we can overcome this crisis that knows no borders."
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on his Twitter account, "Blaming does not help. The virus knows no borders. We must cooperate closely against COVID-19."
"One of the best investments is that the United Nations, especially the underfunded WHO, to strengthen, for example in the development and distribution of tests and vaccines," Maas added.
Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) highlighted that the UN body is "key international organization in this pandemic."
"Multilateralism and international collaboration are central to successfully fighting COVID-19 together," the FOPH was cited by the Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS.
In Ireland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney became the first senior Irish official who has openly criticized the decision by Trump. He described the move as "indefensible" and "shocking."
"This is [an] indefensible decision, in [the]midst of global pandemic" when so many vulnerable people around the world rely on the WHO, Coveney tweeted.
"Deliberately undermining funding and trust now is shocking," he said, adding that "Now is a time for global leadership and unity to save lives, not division and blame!"
Also on Wednesday, Britain highlighted the important role of the WHO in spearheading the global health response.
"Our position is that the UK has no plans to stop funding the WHO, which has an important role to play in leading the global health response," a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a media briefing, adding that "Coronavirus is a global challenge and it's essential that countries work together to tackle this shared threat."
Across the English Channel, France regrets the U.S. decision on suspension of WHO funding.
France expects "a return to normal" so that the WHO could pursue its work, French government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye said at a press conference following a cabinet meeting.
In addition, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto termed the U.S. decision as "a major setback."
Talking to the Finnish news agency STT, Haavisto said that "the work of the WHO is needed especially these days for overcoming the coronavirus."
In stark contrast to the U.S. move, the Finnish government on Wednesday pledged to increase its funding for the WHO by restoring it to the 2017 level -- 5.5 million euros (6 million U.S. dollars).
The WHO is leading the global effort to prepare for and respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finland is one of the vice-chairs of the WHO Executive Board and supports a strong WHO, the government noted in the statement.
Moreover, some former WHO officials also rendered support for the organization.
Professor Anthony Costello, a British pediatrician and former director of the Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health at the WHO, said on Wednesday that it would "be extremely damaging to America's reputation worldwide" if the U.S. goes ahead with Trump's decision.
Speaking in a TV program of the Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE, Costello said the WHO has given much support to the world's poorest countries in terms of testing, research and development in the fight against the pandemic.
In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a virtual press conference the WHO regretted the U.S. decision to halt funding. The organization's performance in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic will be reviewed by WHO's member states "in due course," he added.
Tedros called on all the nations to be united in the common struggle against a common pandemic, because "when we are divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us."
小升初特长生竞争激烈 孩子如何突出重围
小升初”特长生测试 不看证书比动手
衔接不是托管 小升初培训看“路标”
北京2012小升初特长生录取的两个步骤
苏州新区实验小升初择校面试开始
山东青岛第二实验初级中学2012小升初特长生录取办法
郑州小升初衔接家长计划分享
香港小升初无择校费:派位可选33个志愿
小升初经验谈:小升初兵法之暗渡陈仓
备战2012小升初:语文模拟试题及答案(二)
山东青岛第三十七中学2012小升初特长生录取办法
2012北京小升初数学考试最容易失分的地方
专家指导:如何备战小升初分班考试
2012小升初数学:应用题综合训练(二)
2012小升初成功进重点初中的六大攻略
备战2013小升初:如何有效备考语数英?
小升初学习生活衔接 家长孩子需共同改变
家长必看:从七个方面考察小升初目标学校
小升初英语面试最常见的三个问题
家长必读:给小升初特长生备考的四点建议
如何做小升初衔接阶段的学习规划和心理准备
专家支招:怎样帮孩子顺利度过小升初的衔接
小升初衔接班:小学初中老师意见大不同
2012小升初分班考试作文高分秘籍
小升初特长生学习英语的原则
宁波老三区小升初报考三所民办初中入学压力大
小升初数学:应用题综合训练(一)
2012小升初特长生测试情况报道
2013小升初决胜秘诀:考点、政策和备考攻略
北京小升初衔接新初一父母必知
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |