The President called on all countries to cooperate and assist each other in the fight against coronavirus, emphasising that human beings are sufficiently exposed to major threats and that it is time that pressure and threat, terrorism-nurturing, pressure on nations in the form of economic terrorism and military threats, give way to bilateral, multilateral and international cooperation to combat real and common threats.

President Hassan Rouhani's speech is as follows:

In the name of God

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the beginning of my speech, I would like to thank Mr Ilham Aliyev, honourable President of Azerbaijan, for arranging this summit and for helping my country in the fight against COVID-19. I would also like to thank all member states of the Non-Aligned Movement and other countries that have helped each other in the global fight against the international threat of COVID-19.

Global experience in combatting COVID-19 has shown how a contagious disease can threaten all countries in the world, regardless of border, nationality or race, and endanger the health of every single person in the world. This is a serious warning to all countries that human beings are sufficiently exposed to major threats such as environmental degradation, global warming and natural threats such as coronavirus, and it is time that pressure and threat, terrorism-nurturing, pressure on nations in the form of economic terrorism and military threats, give way to bilateral, multilateral and international cooperation to combat real and common threats. This experience has shown that the vulnerability of global powers that have filled their arsenals with weapons of mass destruction is no less than other countries to the threat of a contagious disease such as COVID-19 if not more.

To be updated…