AIDS: France, UN lash Bush

BANGKOK – The United States must lead the fight against AIDS with the same commitment it shows in the battle against terrorism, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday.

“We hear a lot about weapons of mass destruction. We hear a lot about terrorism, and we are worried about weapons of mass destruction because of their potential to kill thousands of people,” Annan said in an interview with the BBC.”Here we have an epidemic that is killing millions.What is the response?” Annan said.”We really do need leadership.America has the natural leadership capacity because of its resources, because of its size.”Annan was speaking on the sidelines of an international AIDS conference in Bangkok where Washington’s low-key presence, moral agenda and funding policies on AIDS have come under attack.But a top US government scientist defended President George W Bush’s US$15 billion plan to fight the AIDS epidemic that has killed 20 million people worldwide and infected 38 million.”There is absolutely no diminished commitment in interacting internationally.Look at the president’s programmes.It’s US$15 billion,” Dr Tony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters.In thinly veiled criticism yesterday, France said a US drive for bilateral trade deals was undermining an international pact to provide cheap copycat AIDS drugs to the developing world.French development Minister Xavier Darcos said Washington must honour the spirit of a multilateral trade commitment made in 2001 giving poor countries access to cheap generic drugs.”Making certain countries drop these measures in the framework of bilateral trade negotiations would be tantamount to blackmail,” said Darcos, who was also jeered by activists.The Bush plan pledges US$15 billion over five years for care, prevention and treatment in 15 countries, mostly in Africa and the Caribbean, which account for 70 percent of all infections.Global spending on AIDS last year was US$4.7 billion, half of what will be needed by 2005 in developing countries, UNAIDS says.The smaller US delegation, which Washington says reflects a desire to cut costs, at this year’s conference is seen partly as a sign of Washington’s displeasure that it appears to have had little influence on the agenda.”The shouting down of secretary Thompson in Barcelona (last year) has done a lot of harm,” said conference co-chair Joep Lange, who chided activists for heckling a drug company boss yesterday.”We have to be realistic.We want the US back, but we have to work hard to get them back,” he said.- Nampa-ReutersWe hear a lot about terrorism, and we are worried about weapons of mass destruction because of their potential to kill thousands of people,” Annan said in an interview with the BBC.”Here we have an epidemic that is killing millions.What is the response?” Annan said.”We really do need leadership.America has the natural leadership capacity because of its resources, because of its size.”Annan was speaking on the sidelines of an international AIDS conference in Bangkok where Washington’s low-key presence, moral agenda and funding policies on AIDS have come under attack.But a top US government scientist defended President George W Bush’s US$15 billion plan to fight the AIDS epidemic that has killed 20 million people worldwide and infected 38 million.”There is absolutely no diminished commitment in interacting internationally.Look at the president’s programmes.It’s US$15 billion,” Dr Tony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters.In thinly veiled criticism yesterday, France said a US drive for bilateral trade deals was undermining an international pact to provide cheap copycat AIDS drugs to the developing world.French development Minister Xavier Darcos said Washington must honour the spirit of a multilateral trade commitment made in 2001 giving poor countries access to cheap generic drugs.”Making certain countries drop these measures in the framework of bilateral trade negotiations would be tantamount to blackmail,” said Darcos, who was also jeered by activists.The Bush plan pledges US$15 billion over five years for care, prevention and treatment in 15 countries, mostly in Africa and the Caribbean, which account for 70 percent of all infections.Global spending on AIDS last year was US$4.7 billion, half of what will be needed by 2005 in developing countries, UNAIDS says.The smaller US delegation, which Washington says reflects a desire to cut costs, at this year’s conference is seen partly as a sign of Washington’s displeasure that it appears to have had little influence on the agenda.”The shouting down of secretary Thompson in Barcelona (last year) has done a lot of harm,” said conference co-chair Joep Lange, who chided activists for heckling a drug company boss yesterday.”We have to be realistic.We want the US back, but we have to work hard to get them back,” he said.- Nampa-Reuters