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Russia ready to support operation of WHO office in Moscow — health ministry

Earlier, the WHO European Office held a special session, which adopted a draft resolution envisaging a possible closure of the Moscow office on noncommunicable diseases

GENEVA, May 23. /TASS/. Russia is ready to continue to support the activities of the European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Moscow, Russian Deputy Health Minister Alexandra Dronova said on Monday at the 75th World Health Assembly.

"The Russian Federation is assisting the WHO in working with member countries on prevention of noncommunicable diseases by funding and supporting the WHO European Office for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases operating in Moscow. It is a global center specializing in development of innovative preventive measures to combat NCDs," she said. "We express our readiness to continue to support the activities of the Office in Moscow."

Earlier, the WHO European Office held a special session, which adopted a draft resolution envisaging a possible closure of the Moscow office on noncommunicable diseases. The document was posted on the website of the WHO European Office.

The draft was initiated by 38 member nations. It was supported by Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, and Turkey, as well as by European Union member countries. Russia, Belarus, and Tajikistan were against, and Armenia and Kazakhstan abstained. The document calls on Regional Director Hans Kluge to "consider temporarily suspending all regional meetings in the Russian Federation, including technical meetings and meetings of experts, as well as conferences and seminars whose composition is set by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, until peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine is implemented.".

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