NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia affirmed the need for cooperation and peace in light of the unprecedented, global crisis provoked by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its dire economic, social, and humanitarian effects. This came during a speech delivered by Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, during the virtually held high-level meeting of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends. Al-Mouallimi expressed his deep gratitude to all health care workers who are fighting on the front lines of this ongoing pandemic, stressing the importance of providing them with the necessary support. He added: “As the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia stresses the need for a full respect of human rights, and also affirms that there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia if we want to get out of this crisis stronger.”