“As for the Damascus leadership, they must know that the international community will not stand aside if they were to use chemical weapons,” President Hollande told the 67th UN General Assembly on the opening day of its General Debate, calling on the international community to protect liberated areas in Syria by providing humanitarian aid to refugees.

Citing Syria as a matter of immediate urgency, he put the number of dead there at nearly 30,000 since the uprising against the rule of the Assad family began 18 months ago. According to UN humanitarian agencies, more than 260,000 Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries and an estimated 2.5 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

In a review of world flashpoints, the French leader accused Iran of developing a nuclear programme without any final civilian purpose, warning that France will not accept such a diversion that threatens regional security. France, together with its European partners, is prepared to impose new sanctions, he said.

Iran’s nuclear activities have been of international concern since the discovery, in 2003, that Iran had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years, in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy, but many countries contend it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Turning to the Middle East, President Hollande stressed the need to resume negotiations in mutual trust leading to the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, describing it as “the only just and lasting solution.”

He also called on the international community to face up to the gravity of the situation in the Sahel region of west Africa, where terrorist groups have seized northern Mali, stressing that France will support the African Union and the Economic Community of West Africa in the measures they take to restore Mali’s territorial integrity.

Turning to development issues, the French President warned that the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) – which seek to slash a host of social ills, including extreme hunger and poverty, infant and maternal mortality, and lack of access to education and medical care, all by 2015 – will not be attained without additional resources. He called for innovative financing in light of the budgetary constraints afflicting many states.

He also urged the adoption of a financial transaction tax on the movement of capital to fund programs for development and the eradication of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, and called for the enlargement of the 15-member Security Council, including a permanent seat for Africa, to better reflect the current status of the world.

President Hollande met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, and the two men discussed the world’s crisis points, touching on Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process and fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Reuters, markets have enjoyed a strong run over the last few weeks on hopes that the new urgency in Europe to overcome its debt crisis may allow Greece to remain in euro and keep the bloc from unraveling. Rating firm Moody’s released a report saying that repair programs in troubled southern eurozone countries were having a significant benefit although overcoming the problems could take several more years.

Kathimerini writes Samaras is hoping that Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker will give Greece and its continued euro membership his strong backing following talks in Athens between the two men this afternoon, when the Premier will set out the measures Greek government plans to take. Sources said Samaras is hoping that unequivocal support from Juncker will set a positive tone for the week.

Jean Claude Juncker, who will also have dinner with Samaras at the Acropolis Museum, declined a request from opposition party SYRIZA to meet with its leader, Alexis Tsipras. The leftists had sent a request to the Luxembourg Embassy in Athens last week but were told Juncker would not have time for the meeting. Party sources blamed the government and the troika for the talks not being held. Tsipras had turned down an invitation to meet with troika representatives in July.

Hollande and Merkel need the latest report on Greece’s economic situation and a precise aid request before deciding how to help the country, France’s European affairs minister said according to Bloomberg. “There’s a process we’re engaged in to evaluate the efforts made by Greece in recent months, which we know was set back by elections,” European Affairs Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said yesterday in an interview with Europe 1 radio. “We’ll evaluate the situation and try to take a common position.”

Citing news agencies, capital.gr writes that Germany will not substantially soften its agreements with Greece, its foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said yesterday, after meeting with his Greek counterpart Dimitris Avramopoulos. According to Kathimerini Westerwelle said Greece needs to carry out the reforms that have already been agreed upon, but that “the German government wants us to remain together in the eurozone.” He pledged Germany’s help in implementing the reforms, but said “the key to success lies in Athens.”

According to protothema.gr, the government is still seeking around EUR 700 million to EUR 1 billion. All unresolved issues were on the table in the meeting yesterday evening between Antonis Samaras and Finance minister Yannis Stournaras. In statements after the meeting, Stournaras said “we are talking about a new type of labour reserve [in the public sector]“, and that the full package of measures will be ready early in September, before the Troika’s arrival in Athens. He added that the meeting with Samaras was of an informative nature; at this time “they are costing the measures” and this is an ongoing process.

“Mr. Avramopoulos’ recent journey to Berlin and the forthcoming trip of Mr. Samaras are meaningless” SYRIZA MP Rena Dourou said in an interview with NET radio, “since in their luggage they bear no other approach than full obedience to Merkel.” SYRIZA MP said the Prime Minister forgot to renegotiate and now the new national goal is to extend the programme.

Dourou also argued that “lengthening the adjustment period while keeping the disastrous recipe of internal devaluation, is nothing more than as to give us a longer rope to hang ourselves.”

As Kathimerini writes, Hollande firmly backed Greece remaining in the euro. “I am in favor of Greece remaining in the eurozone but Greeks should know that this requires there be a relationship of trust,” Hollande said.

“There will be countries in the eurozone that would prefer to see an end to Greece’s presence in the eurozone if there is an impression that the Greeks want to distance themselves from the agreed commitments,” he added.

Hollande pledged that at an EU leaders’ summit later this month would argue for the use of European structural funds to help it return to growth. He said Greek voters would decide what they wanted.“We will adopt growth measures that will have an impact on Greece if it chooses to remain in the eurozone and meet its commitments.”

He said Greeks could be sure that if they decided to remain in the euro, they would be helped by their international partners.

Greece will hold its second parliamentary election on June 17, after a May vote failed to produce any workable majority. The leftist Syriza party, which has vowed to tear up the bailout deal, has a good chance of winning, and even parties which backed the rescue now favor renegotiating its terms.

EU leaders are growing international pressure to take bold action when they hold a summit on June 28 and 29 as the eurozone crisis increasingly threatens global growth prospects.

“With respect to Greece, which has important elections next weekend, we’ve said that it is in everybody’s interest for Greece to remain in the eurozone while respecting its commitments to reform,” he said in an appearance in the White House briefing room.  “We recognize the sacrifices that the Greek people have made, and European leaders understand the need to provide support if the Greek people choose to remain in the eurozone.  But the Greek people also need to recognize that their hardships will likely be worse if they choose to exit from the eurozone,” he said.

Obama expressed his concern about Europe, which faces a threat of renewed recession as countries deal with a financial crisis, urging the region’s leaders to strengthen the banking sector. Obama said his administration has tried not to scold European leaders.

In mentioning German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, Obama urged European leaders to pursue growth alongside austerity, noting that they have the support of the US, according to Kathimerni.

“Over the longer term, even as European countries with large debt burdens carry out necessary fiscal reforms, they’ve also got to promote economic growth and job creation.  As some countries have discovered, it’s a lot harder to rein in deficits and debt if your economy isn’t growing.  So it’s a positive thing that the conversation has moved in that direction, and leaders like Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande are working to put in place a growth agenda alongside responsible fiscal plans.”

Speaking after talks with New Zealand’s prime minister John Key, Merkel said on Friday: “What we have always said is that we want Greece to remain a member of the eurozone.”

“The precondition for that to succeed is that the future Greek government sticks to the memorandum that was agreed with the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and the European Commission,” she said according to AFP. 

Greece holds a fresh round of elections on June 17 after May 6 elections left no party with enough votes for a majority in parliament and days of talks failed to resolve the country’s political deadlock.

“This memorandum is the foundation for a favourable development and we have to say that clearly to all those who are seeking election in Greece,” Merkel stressed.

It is Hollande’s first visit to Afghanistan since assuming office on May 15. He was accompanied by French defence and foreign ministers, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Laurent Fabius, and chief of army staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud, according to AFP. 

The visit The French head of state arrived at Kabul airport at around 8:30 am (0400 GMT) at the start of a visit expected to last only a few hours.

The new French President, Francois Hollande, has promised to pull out the country’s forces by the end of this year,  two years before the alliance’s timetable. But  in Chicago NATO summit Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed confidence the alliance would “maintain solidarity” despite France’s decision. ”There will be no rush for the exits,” he said.

There are currently 3,400 French soldiers in Afghanistan.

Hollande it clear at the NATO summit to Obama that he would not renege on a campaign pledge to send back French combat troops a year earlier than planned.

Hollande is in Afghanistan to tell to French soldiers why he had decided to accelerate their exit from the nearly 11-year war, accoridng to Khaleejtimes. Other NATO allies agreed in Chicago to an unconditional withdrawal by the end of 2014, leaving Afghans responsible for national security.

The US president warned of “hard days ahead” at a NATO summit in Chicago dominated by the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, CNN reported.

“The loss of life continues in Afghanistan and there will be hard days ahead,” Obama stated.

The aim of the NATO summit is to complete a transition process that will bring the war to an end of 2014 and put Afghans in the lead for their own security.

More than 50 leaders are attending the meeting, including heads of state and government from the 28 NATO countries.

Demonstrators clashed with a line of police who tried to keep them away from where the meeting was being held. The march, estimated by police to number 2,500 to 3,000 people, was led by a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who symbolically gave back their military medals, Al Jazeera reported.

The new French President, Francois Hollande, has promised to pull out the country’s forces by the end of this year, two years before the alliance’s timetable, showing division in talks.

But NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed confidence the alliance would “maintain solidarity” despite France’s decision. ”There will be no rush for the exits,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told journalists, “We went into Afghanistan together, we want to leave Afghhanistan together,” showing the tension of the talks, Al Arabiya reported.

Karzai notted that it was important to complete the security transition and withdrawal of foreign combat troops from Afghanistan that the summit will ratify.

According to France’s Interior Ministry Hollande took around 51.7% of the runoff vote to Nicolas Sarkozy’s 48.3%, with turnout at 81%, france 24 reported.

“We are not a France divided, we are one single France, all united in the same destiny,” he told his supporters, according to france 24.

Celebrations were held at the iconic Place de la Bastille in central Paris, the same place where the last Socialist to win a presidential election, François Mitterrand, celebrated his victory back in 1981.

Hollande, who led in the polls throughout the campaign, won the April 22 first round with 28.6 per cent to 27.2 per cent for Sarkozy – making the right-winger the first-ever incumbent to lose in the first round.

The country’s 46 million eligible voters voted at polling stations from 06:00 GMT on Sunday, after a  campaign that had seen both Sarkozy and Hollande label the other  a liar.

According to a survey by Ipsos polling institute, half of Hollande’s voters said their main reason for voting for the Hollande was to unseat Sarkozy.

Hollande will be sworn in as France’s president on May 14 or 15.

Mr. Hollande said that he wants to lighten the burden on Greeks, pointing out that Greece should “regain a level of development”, Protothema writes.

At the same time, he said that if elected next month he would set forth his ideas for improving economic growth in Europe in a letter to European Union leaders the next day.

Hollande, calls to renegotiate an EU fiscal in order to include methods to boost growth if he beats conservative  Nicolas Sarkozy in a May 6 election runoff as polls predict.

His letter would include four points: The creation of eurobonds to finance investment and industry projects, freeing up investment funds, a financial transaction tax and deploying unused structural investment funds for various prgrams.

Some of these measures will be hard to negotiate on a European level, but Hollande stated them as the debate in Europe began to shift away from the tight deficit-cutting rules imposed by the Sarkozy-Merkel alliance, AFP reports.

Hollande won 28.6 percent of the vote in the first round to Sarkozy’s 27.18 percent, and is forecast in opinion polls to beat the incumbent president on May 6.

This means that Hollande and Sarkozy advance to the second round on May 6.

The far right’s Marine Le Pen came third with a shocking 20% of the vote, stirring discussions.

The estimates based on votes counted in polling stations that closed early at 18:00 (16:00 GMT) were made public by French media when all voting ended at 20:00.

According to the French interior ministry, the turnout for the first round of 2012 French presidential election stood at 70.59 percent at 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), slightly lower than the 73.87 in 2007, Xinhua reported.

The number is considered quite high, but a little less than the incomparable 2007 turnout for the same time.

The second round on May 6 which will include a televised debate, will decide who will be France’s president for the next five years.

Over the past months, campaigning has concentrated on the economy as France confronts an unemployment rate of around 10%, its highest in 12 years, and a stagnant economy as the eurozone debt crisis continues.