Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will meet with Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, today.

Since its creation in 2002, this fund has provided $4.4 billion per year in funding to programs aimed at combatting these three pandemics in more than 100 countries, notably in Africa and Southeast Asia. Its work has therefore made it possible to provide antiretroviral treatment for HIV to more than 8.6 million people, to treat 15 million people for tuberculosis and to distribute 600 million mosquito nets to help combat malaria.

The Global Fund aims to mobilize $13 billion over the period 2017-2019 to continue this fight.

France is a founding member of and the world’s second largest contributor to the Global Fund, to which it has provided $4.5 billion in funding since its creation in 2002; it endorses the Global Fund’s work, which is supported by our diplomatic and consular network.

Nagorno-Karabakh – Entry into force of the ceasefire (April 5, 2016)

France welcomes the establishment on April 5, as of noon local time, of a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. It urges all parties to strictly comply with it.

The negotiations must now resume under the auspices of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group in order to find a negotiated and lasting solution to the conflict while respecting international law.

As Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, indicated on April 5, the conflict cannot be resolved through military force or by maintaining the status quo.

Human rights – Amnesty International’s annual report on the death penalty (April 6, 2016)

Amnesty International’s annual report on the death penalty underscores the record number of executions around the world in 2015, representing an increase of more than 50% compared with 2014.

France reaffirms its constant opposition to the death penalty everywhere and under all circumstances. We are especially concerned by the large number of executions notably in China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Iraq, Somalia and Egypt.

France is resolutely continuing its efforts to ensure the universal abolition of the death penalty and urges all states that still use this unjust, inhumane and ineffective punishment to establish a moratorium with a view to its definitive abolition.

Saudi Arabia – Murder of a police officer (April 5, 2016)

France condemns the terrorist attack for which Daesh has claimed responsibility and which killed a Saudi police colonel on April 5 near Riyadh.

It extends its condolences to the victim’s family and assures the Saudi authorities and people of its solidarity in the fight against terrorism.

Egypt

What do you think about the threats to close down the Nadeem Center in Egypt?

France is concerned by the threats to close down the Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture. We are monitoring the situation very closely together with our partners, notably our European partners, and hope that a solution can be found so that this association can continue its work, the quality of which we commend.

We reaffirm our support for the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and our commitment to combating these practices which are contrary to human dignity.

Civil society actors must play a key role in building a pluralist society that respects the rights of all./.