​​​​​​​Macron calls for a cease-fire around world

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global truce on March 23, noting the collapse of the health system in war-ravaged countries and the targeting of the remaining medical personnel in combat operations.

Macron said that Chinese President Xi- Jinping, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson assured him all of their support for Guterres' invitation.

The French president said he hoped to obtain the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming hours.

"I spoke to him at the beginning of this initiative. I have not spoken to him since I have firm assurances from other leaders, and I will do so in the next few hours," he added, speaking to Radio France International.

"I think President Putin will definitely agree and will be able on the day he announces that we will hold a video conference and communicate this invitation in an official, strong and effective manner," he added.

The UN Security Council met for the first time on April 9 to discuss the Corona Virus Crisis as the 15-member Council made great efforts to agree on whether to take any action in this regard.

The five veto-wielding states in the UN Security Council are the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain, and these countries are considering a draft resolution prepared by France.

In another context, the French President said that stopping the debt payments of African countries was an "indispensable step" to help the continent overcome the Coronavirus crisis, calling for an eventual write-off of debt.

"We must give African economies some time by suspending debt payments during this crisis," Macron said, describing that as "global first".

The French president’s comments came at a time when the Minister of Finance said that the major international creditors have reached an initial agreement to reduce the debt required from the world's poorest countries this year.

Macron urged financial officials of the United States, China and other G-20 nations to finalize this agreement when they meet online on Wednesday.

T/S

ANHA