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Chancellor Angela Merkel
Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has declared uniform and rapid vaccinations all over the world to be the main task of the western industrial nations.
"If the virus is not defeated globally, then none of us is safe," said Merkel in her speech at the virtual Munich Security Conference.
Merkel campaigned for support for the Covax international vaccination campaign.
Covax aims to advance the development, production and fair distribution of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for Covid-19.
This is to give poorer countries access to corona vaccines.
After the virtual G7 summit in the morning, Merkel announced that Germany wants to support the initiative with 1.5 billion euros.
The seven leading industrial nations of the G7 collect a total of 7.5 billion euros.
Previously, UN Secretary General Antónia Guterres had called for a global "vaccination task force" and the issue of vaccine licenses.
However, Merkel did not go that far in her speech.
The Munich Security Conference is considered to be the world's most important expert meeting on security policy.
Hundreds of participants normally attend the multi-day conference, including numerous heads of state and government, as well as foreign and defense ministers.
This time it will not take place live in Munich, but in conformity with Corona, virtually.
In addition to Merkel, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary General António Guterres also gave speeches.
"The USA is back"
Aside from the corona pandemic, Merkel also emphasized a joint approach to climate protection and the fight against terrorism.
"The commitment to multilateralism is right and important," said Merkel.
Merkel had words of praise for the new US President Biden.
The US had returned to the Paris climate agreement and was ready again for nuclear talks with Iran.
Biden's first acts would show "that there is not only talk here, but that there is also action here".
Germany is "ready for a new chapter in the transatlantic partnership," said Merkel, referring to the strategic challenges facing China and Russia
In his speech, Biden had previously committed to renewing the transatlantic alliance.
"The US is back," he said at the beginning of his speech.
After four "tough" years under ex-President Donald Trump, he again promised deeper cooperation.
French President Macron also emphasized the community of western states, but also addressed the differences between Europe and the USA.
The fight against global warming was particularly important to Macron, and a "new security agenda" was also needed.
He was referring to how to deal with conflict regions such as the Sahel or Afghanistan, but also to space as a new arena for possible national conflicts.
With a view to the fight against Covid-19, the West must help support Africa.
The continent must be supplied with vaccine quickly.
In her speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the fight against hatred on the Internet.
The attack on the US Capitol showed how fragile democracy is - and how dangerous online hate speech can be.
Digital violence can turn into violence in real life, said von der Leyen.
A kind of “digital set of rules” is needed that is valid worldwide.
The European Union and the US could work it out together.
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