UNGA head outlines priorities for upcoming session

The president-elect of the 75th session of U.N. General Assembly is warning the coronavirus pandemic poses a "serious threat" to global security.

Volkan Bozkir, a Turkish diplomat, is taking on the role as the U.N. grapples with an unprecedented pandemic, and questions the future direction it should take.

Speaking before delegates at the General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Bozkir said "the pandemic has been used to justify unilateral steps and weaken the rules-based international system."

He argued "these criticisms are not baseless, but their conclusions are misguided.

Bozkir pledged to deepen international cooperation amongst states to combat the spread of the disease.