US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have called for high-level international talks on the emerging Corona virus crisis.
Trump and Macron held a phone conversation on Friday, during which they discussed "a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council soon, to enhance cooperation at the United Nations to eradicate the epidemic and ensure international peace and security." The five countries are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
This will be an "important signal" in the face of a global pandemic that poses a threat, especially in areas of armed conflict, the French President's office said.
However, the permanent members of the Security Council have faced differences among themselves in recent weeks when dealing with issues related to the epidemic.
The United States and China have entered into a war of words over the cause of the spread of the Coruna virus, and Russia and China do not want the Security Council to deal with the issue beyond being a health and economic issue.
A possible international decision
The French presidency announced that Macron is pushing for a Security Council resolution supporting the call of the United Nations Secretary-General to declare a ceasefire in all war zones and reach the civilian population to help them combat the spread of the virus.
But a diplomat told the French press - who asked not to be identified - that the dispute between the United States and China had "deepened".
On the other hand, Macron held a conference call with ten African leaders yesterday to discuss facing the health and economic crisis of Corona, according to the French presidency.
The leaders of Mali, Ethiopia, South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Kenya and Zimbabwe participated, as well as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Paris spoke of an "initiative" with African countries, without giving any details. It had announced the postponement of the Afro-French summit, which had been scheduled for June in the French city of Bordeaux.