UN General Assembly may cancel session amid pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic makes it "unlikely" that world leaders and thousands of other participants will be able to gather in New York in September for the annual UN General Assembly, Report says, citing TASS.

In an interview with the French weekly magazine Paris-Match, published in the Thursday edition, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was looking at "various alternatives" made possible by digital technology, which he will present to member states.

According to the UN Secretary-General, the spread of the coronavirus forced him to change his routine. "Now, I come to the UN secretariat building only when it is necessary. Unfortunately, I can no longer travel and come to Lisbon, where my mother lives, who is doing well. We talk every day, and distance strengthens relationships, you start to attach importance to what you lose."

"This pandemic should encourage us to rebuild our society, economy, taking into account health problems, but also climate change, which is our common duty," the UN Secretary-General said.

The 75th session of the UN General Assembly was scheduled for September 15. The UN currently unites 193 States.