Lyon (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday in Lyon a 15% increase in France's contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in line with that of other major countries.
"France will be at the rendezvous with a 15% increase" in its contribution, said the head of the French state, which should announce in the early afternoon the total resources available for the Fund for the three coming years.
France's current contribution is $ 1.08 billion over three years.
The stated goal is to raise $ 14 billion.
"I will not let anyone out of this room or leave Lyon until the 14 billion have been obtained, and so we will get them soon," Macron said, calling the 700 delegates to " harass (their) capitals ", to obtain additional funding.
Breaking with the diplomatic tradition, Macron cited several countries that could do more to reach the targeted amount: Japan, Norway, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Macron also called Fifa President Gianni Infantino to "be with us".
"In the next three hours, we must reach 14 billion.You have understood the pressure is maximum," acknowledged the French president.
"This mobilization can not be at the expense of our other commitments," said Macron, promising that France would pay 85 million euros a year over three years to Unitaid, the organization charged with buying medicines for the poorest countries.
© 2019 AFP