*EPF309 06/27/01
Transcript: Annan Remarks at U.N. Special Session on AIDS
(Says world is waking up to gravity of crisis) (1030)
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the level of participation at the U.N. Special Session on AIDS shows that the world is finally waking up to the gravity of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
In his opening remarks at a June 27 press conference, Annan said it is clear that all political leaders from both developed and developing countries "are now taking this challenge very seriously."
Annan said he was also impressed by the strong participation of non-governmental activists within the national delegations, at various events and as observers in the plenary sessions. "You can feel their presence ... and they really have transformed the atmosphere of the building," he said.
Annan said the session's final declaration sets out a clear battle plan for the war against HIV/AIDS, with clear goals and a clear timeline. He said one idea that stands out clearly in the declaration is that the battle against AIDS can only be won if women are fully educated and enjoy full rights, including a full say in devising society's collective response to the disease.
Following is the transcript of Annan's opening remarks:
(begin transcript)
PRESS CONFERENCE BY KOFI ANNAN
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, June 27, 2001
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S OPENING REMARKS
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me start by saying that I am deeply honored by the vote that has just taken place in the Security Council and I am grateful for the trust and support they have given me. But I hope you will understand that I do not wish to speak about it at this press conference. As you know, this is a matter on which the Council recommends, but it is for the General Assembly to decide. Until the Assembly has taken its decision, I believe it would not be proper for me to get too much into this and I hope you will bear with me.
In any case, that is not today's subject. Today, as you know, is the final day of the Special Session on HIV/AIDS, which I think we should all recognize as a truly historic event.
It is historic for two reasons. First, the level of attendance shows that the world is at long last waking up to the gravity of the HIV/AIDS crisis. And second, the Declaration that will be adopted later this afternoon provides us with a clear strategy for tackling it.
It is clear that all political leaders in important areas of both the developed and the developing countries are now taking this challenge very seriously and I have attended some very important meetings with them and I have had the chance to discuss with them one on one. I hope this level of commitment will soon spread to all countries, especially those in Asia and eastern Europe where infection rates are going to rise steeply in the next year or two.
But I am perhaps even more impressed by the strong participation of non-governmental activists - within national delegations, at a wide range of parallel events, in the Round Tables, and as observers in the plenary sessions.
You can feel their presence and you feel the presence of these activities everywhere, and they really have transformed the atmosphere of the building - as they do at all the best United Nations events.
I am more than ever convinced that such partnerships are essential to our success in the new century. Of course they bring problems and controversy with them, but so does every new idea.
In the last two days, some painful differences have been brought into the open - but that is the best place for them. Like AIDS itself, these differences need to be confronted head on, not swept under the carpet.
What is important is that, after today, we shall have a document setting out a clear battle plan for the war against HIV/AIDS, with clear goals and a clear timeline. It is a blueprint from which the whole of humanity can work, in building a global response to a truly global challenge.
And if there is one idea that stands out clearly from the Declaration, it is that women are in the forefront of this battle. It can only be won if women are fully educated and enjoy their full rights, including a full say in devising society's collective response. It has been said that "girl power is Africa's own vaccine against HIV", and that should be true for the whole world.
Equally important, everyone now recognizes the need for additional resources, and we have heard some impressive pledges of money during the Session. I hope that before and during the G8 summit in Genoa next month we shall hear even more.
The strong and widespread support for my proposal of a Global AIDS and Health Fund is particularly gratifying. I have now had the chance to discuss this proposal with many different parties, and I am working with all stakeholders - the G-8, other donors, developing countries, foundations, Non-Governmental Organizations and the private sector - to convene a group to finalize the details of the Fund. This transitional group will complete its work in time for the Fund to become operational by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, there have been many immediate offers of contributions from both public and private donors. In fact, UNAIDS is already receiving checks: here is one for a thousand dollars, from a private citizen, and I am delighted to say it is marked "first installment."
I have asked the United Nations Foundation to set up a special account to receive these contributions, which will be tax exempt for U.S. citizens and taxpayers, and to hold them in readiness for transfer to the Fund as soon as it is operational.
All in all, I feel even more confident today than I did three days ago that we can defeat this deadly disease.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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