UN urges countries to stop conflicts during winter Olympics
The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution by acclamation Monday urging all countries to stop hostilities and observe a truce during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea — a message especially aimed at North Korea.
The resolution, adopted with a bang of the gavel by Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak to loud applause, urges U.N. member states to observe the truce from seven days before the games begin on Feb. 9 until seven days after the Paralympic Winter Games end on March 18.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, told the 193-member world body that with the resolution the General Assembly is “creating the conditions for all athletes to compete in peace.”
“Only the U.N. member states can guarantee the athletes the safe passage to the Olympic Games,” he said. “They make it possible for all the Olympic athletes to realize their dream of a lifetime.”