There is a new wrinkle in the saga of the World Health Organization’s efforts to investigate the origins of the pandemic. The Washington Post reports:
For almost a year, the World Health Organization has been working with Chinese authorities to secure access to the epicenter of the initial outbreak. Terms of reference were drawn up. The team was selected. It expected to arrive in China just after the new year.
By New Year’s Eve, the WHO expert leading the mission did not have a flight booked. On Tuesday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed “disappointment” that China had yet to finalize permissions for the trip — his most pointed criticism of China to date. China has said the two sides are “still negotiating” arrangements for the trip.
The BBC’s reporting includes Chinese officials suggesting that the holdup may be temporary, but the snafu is notable given the intricate negotiations between China and the WHO that have already taken place.
Costa Rica is reportedly set to begin a new round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Several months ago, opposition compelled the country’s president to reverse course on fiscal reforms designed to secure IMF support. In April 2020, the IMF approved a $500 million fast-track loan for the country, but the government has been attempting to secure larger and longer-term support.
NATO’s Secretary General fields a question about Georgia (the U.S. state, not the country):
Question: (Starts in German.) What is your view of the situation in the US state of Georgia? Are you concerned that US President Trump could misuse the military for its own purposes?
Secretary General: I have already congratulated President-elect Joe Biden with the victory in the presidential elections. I'm looking forward to working with him and after the inauguration of the 20th of January, I will, of course, welcome him as the heads of state, the President of the United States, NATO's biggest ally.
I have spoken with President Biden. I expressed my congratulations to him and to Vice President Kamala Harris, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris…
It’s not for me to comment on the specifics of the elections in Georgia. I’m just confident that when we have a new president in place after the inauguration on the 20th of January, NATO will continue to work with the United States, and with the new president, the president Biden.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has celebrated efforts to patch up diplomatic relations between Arab countries:
Guterres said the AlUla Declaration on “solidarity and stability” announced at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia “recognizes the importance of unity among the GCC states and aims to strengthen regional security, peace, stability and prosperity.”
…The AlUla Declaration puts an end to a crisis that started in 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar over its support of terrorist organizations, and asked Doha to comply with a list of demands. Qatar had denied supporting such organizations.
Briefly noted:
Will the African Union hold an in-person summit?
A UN human rights rapporteur weighs in on the Julian Assange case.
The European Commission has approved the Moderna vaccine.
The president of the World Bank has warned about sovereign debt levels.