The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) rejected comments by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday after he claimed that China had “bought” the head of the agency.
Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the allegations made by Pompeo in the United Kingdom that they are “false and unacceptable”. Tedros said the WHO was committed to “saving lives” and condemned the comments, which were reportedly made during a closed-door session this week in London.
“The comments are false and unacceptable, and without any basis for that matter,” Tedros told reporters in Geneva on Thursday. “If there is one thing that really matters to us and that should matter to the entire international community, it is saving lives. And the WHO will not be distracted by these comments. “
WHY CHINA CONTINUES TO MEET ON THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The Telegraph first reported Pompeo’s comments Tuesday night, saying that Tedros had been “bought” by the Chinese government and that the result had resulted in “British deaths” following the coronavirus outbreak.
President Trump has been highly critical of the WHO throughout the pandemic, saying the organization is “very focused on China” and threatened to withdraw funds from the United States.
The United States submitted a formal notice of withdrawal to the UN earlier this month, after Trump presented a letter to Tedros in May demanding that the WHO “commit to significant substantial improvements,” although he did not specify what those improvements should be.
WHO WILL RECEIVE PROMISED FUNDS FROM THE UNITED STATES BEFORE THE WITHDRAWAL, POMPEO SAYS
The Trump administration is bound by US legislation drafted in 1948 that requires the United States to pay the remaining promises along with a one-year notice before leaving the WHO.
The United States has reported that $ 99 million in pledges are still owed, which Pompeo has said it is committed to keeping.
Several US lawmakers were frustrated by the decision to withdraw from the WHO during the worst pandemic in recent history, calling the decision “chaotic and inconsistent.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“One of the biggest threats we face remains the politicization of the pandemic. COVID-19 does not respect borders, ideologies or political parties, “Tedros said Thursday. “I have said this many times: COVID policy should be quarantined, and I am again asking all nations to work together. Politics and partisanship have made matters worse. ”
The State Department could not immediately be reached for comment.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
