REMARK BY PRESIDENT MACRON OVER THE ACT-A SESSION OF THE PARIS PEACE FORUM

USPA NEWS - President Emmanuel Macron introduced, delivered a remark as he addressed the Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, General Director of the World Health Organization, Ursula Von Der Lyen, President of the European Commission, Ana Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, Melinda Gates, head of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, targeting the COIVD-19 pandemic as he started up with. « The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed the lives of over a million people and has severely affected our lives and our economies. It is a huge upheaval that is exacerbating inequalities everywhere. An upheaval that also brings many new imbalances if we do not act, collectively.
Caregivers, in all our countries, are once again on the front lines. Their dedication is remarkable and I would once again like to express my greatest gratitude to them. Each government is responsible for taking all possible measures to protect its population, to stop the circulation of the virus in its country in order, of course, to eradicate it permanently. » President Emmanuel Macron introduced, We publish the full text of the President Macron´s remark, as he marked the third edition of the web-connected Paris Peace Forum, held in Paris.

REMARK BY THE FRENCH PRESIDENT MACRON OVER THE ACT-A SESSION OF THE FORUM DE PARIS President Emmanuel Macron introduced, "Mr. Director General of the World Health Organization, Madam President of the European Commission, Madam Prime Minister [Norway], Dear Melinda Gates, Dear friends, The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed the lives of over a million people and has severely affected our lives and our economies. It is a huge upheaval that is exacerbating inequalities everywhere. An upheaval that also brings many new imbalances if we do not act, collectively. Caregivers, in all our countries, are once again on the front lines. Their dedication is remarkable and I would once again like to express my greatest gratitude to them. Each government is responsible for taking all possible measures to protect its population, to stop the circulation of the virus in its country in order, of course, to eradicate it permanently. » « WE ARE ALSO HAVE A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY » PRESIDENT MACRON SAID « However, in the face of this global challenge, we also have a common responsibility, of cooperation and international solidarity. This is the best strategy against this virus that knows no borders, the weapon of our collective effectiveness. It is with these beliefs that just over six months ago, as we faced the first wave of the pandemic, we decided to join forces. We knew that only a concerted and strong response from the entire international community would meet this challenge. Together, we have set up the ACT-A system, with the ambition of being part of a "global public good" approach, that is to say to allow access for all to these tools to fight against this pandemic. The results obtained since then are impressive: the first rapid tests, the first treatments are now available in all countries, rich or poor. I am also thinking of the COVAX facility, which should make it possible to provide two billion doses of vaccine, half of which to developing countries. » President Emmanuel Macron stated

THE STRUGGLE IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING AND WE MUST MOBILIZE EVEN MORE » PDT MACRON SAID The struggle is only just beginning, however, and we must mobilize even more. Hence the importance of today's meeting. 1 / Financial mobilization first, by raising the sums essential to meet this challenge.--------------------------------------------------- In addition to our bilateral efforts and our support to UNITAID for the treatment pillar, I am pleased to confirm today that France will contribute € 100M to COVAX, as soon as a vaccine is available: it is essential so that developing countries can also rapidly benefit from vaccines. France has also committed to providing an additional € 50 million to WHO, the only universal organization in the field of health. Its role is essential to strengthen the capacities of health systems. This is obviously an essential condition for the proper deployment of health products against COVID-19.--------------------------------- But public resources will not be enough. We must mobilize new sources of funding and appeal for everyone's solidarity. In this regard, the private sector and the richest on this planet have a historic opportunity to respond to this call and contribute to the global response to the crisis.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second point, we must also seek a new path, with innovative financing. France has played a pioneering role in this area since the beginning of the 2000s. Together, we must relaunch international reflection on this subject in order to put in place the financial tools that will lift the billions of euros still missing.------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 / But money will not solve all the challenges posed by this pandemic. We also need to get involved politically, for exemplary solidarity in terms of sharing solutions across the planet. We cannot repeat the mistake of the fight against AIDS, where, for too long, molecules were in the North and patients in the South. Once developed, health products must be readily available to all who need them anywhere on the planet. I repeat, this is not simply a demand for justice, for morality; it is also and even first of all a matter of collective efficiency: because as long as a part of humanity, however small it is, will not be out of the woods, the whole planet will remain threatened. We therefore want everyone to commit to following common principles of transparency and fairness. We must ensure that the regulatory and political conditions are all met for the widest and fastest possible access to these products while respecting international quality standards. » President Emmanuel Macron declared

FRANCE IS PROPOSING THAT A ACT-A CHARTER CAN BE QUICKLY ADOPTED WHICH REAFFIRMS MAIN PRINCIPLES-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the principles of ACT-A charter: « This is why France is proposing that an ACT-A charter can be quickly adopted which reaffirms these main principles: sharing knowledge, supporting health systems, having rapidly accessible and affordable products, conditioning the public funds intended for research, and coordinate the allocation of these products.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A project was presented by France and we invite everyone to mobilize on this question of the principles which should govern our common action to fight against the pandemic.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 / Laboratories obviously also have a responsibility to contribute to equitable access. Some are taking the path, and I am delighted. More production partnerships must be engaged to produce in and for developing countries.----------------------------- 5 / Finally, I hope that France, with its European partners, can contribute directly to multilateral efforts, by donating part of our vaccine doses for the vaccination of healthcare workers in the poorest countries. An additional in-kind contribution would strengthen our financial and political support for ACT-A and would make it possible to deliver, within the same timeframe, to those who need it most, in the most fragile countries, the first doses of vaccine when these will be available. More than ever, we must remain united, and to defeat COVID-19, also make the post-COVID world fairer, more balanced, more sustainable Thank you. »“¦/