Update on the coronavirus
Unfortunately, the global epidemiological situation is rapidly going from bad to worse. Last spring, leading health experts expressed serious apprehensions about a second, more powerful wave of the COVID-19 virus. They warned that humanity was in for new trials based on the cross-border spread of this extremely dangerous pathogen. The results of the past two months show that the worst forecasts are coming true. Since early September, an explosive growth in coronavirus cases, over 20 million more, has been recorded in the world, and 4 million people became infected just last week. The latter is a record since the onslaught of the pandemic. About half a million COVID-19 cases are being recorded daily. According to Johns Hopkins University, in all, about 48 million people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. The speed of contagion is bound to cause alarm.
According to the WHO, this long period of intensive growth in cases is being observed for the first time since the pandemic was announced last March. The pathogen epicenter has moved to Europe. Many European countries are setting anti-records, which is compelling their governments to again resort to the toughest restrictions in the hope of controlling the situation. Concerns are also being caused by the speed with which hospitals and especially intensive care units are filling with patients throughout the world. The load on national healthcare systems is growing dynamically and medical facilities are working near the limits of their capacities. As in the spring, the authorities have to find a balance between protecting people from the infection and preventing complete economic collapse. The coronavirus shock is fueling public attitudes, escalating social tensions and playing into the hands of criminals and extremists.
On October 30, the WHO Secretariat distributed a statement on the results of the 5th meeting of the IHR COVID-19 Emergency Committee. According to the document, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious threat on a global scale and demands a strong response through a concerted global effort. In this context, the WHO decided to extend its declaration of international significance to this growing emergency in public healthcare. The 73rd World Health Assembly will resume its meetings on November 9-14 as part of the response to the pandemic.
In connection with the extremely unfavourable sanitary-epidemiological background in the world, we again ask our citizens to suspend nonessential travel abroad, to postpone it until the coronavirus situation stabilises. During the first wave of the pandemic, many Russians had to face risks – the impossibility of returning home for an indefinite time, post-return quarantine, and complete lockdowns in many countries, cities and other residential areas. Unfortunately, these risks remain with us, and are maybe even greater than last spring.
In this context, our recommendations remain relevant. We will continue to keep you informed on this issue.
Andrey Rudenko’s meeting with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus
On November 6, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko will meet in Moscow with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus: EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar, UN Representative Cihan Sultanoglu, and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Rudolf Mikhalka.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin’s consultations with Secretary (West) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup
On November 9, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin will hold consultations in Moscow with Secretary (West) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup. The discussion will focus on UN agenda and aspects of the bilateral agenda.
Update on Nagorno-Karabakh
The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone remained tense during the week. There was shooting from both sides along the line of contact. Civilian facilities were among the targets.
We urge the parties to show extreme caution, avoid hitting civilians and prevent interference by external forces. Every practical effort must be taken to cease fire, defuse tension and resume talks with a view to reaching a peaceful settlement based on fundamental principles.
In this vein, President of Russia Vladimir Putin had an extensive exchange of opinions with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 1 and 2.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Foreign Ministers Alexander Grushko and Andrey Rudenko spoke about the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh during conversations with their foreign colleagues.
Another attempt of the international community to find the quickest way out of the dramatic situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was the October 30 meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Geneva. Earlier they had consultations with President of the International Red Cross Committee Peter Maurer and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
Other members of the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno-Karabakh have also shown their support for the efforts of its co-chairs at the group’s meeting in Vienna on November 3.
To be continued…
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