PETER PIOT: Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, welcome back to this very, very special event. And it’s the first of these conferences. We had to wait for the 14th international Conference on AIDS to have this, and I’m very, very glad and honored that the International AIDS Trust has helped create this event together with UNAIDS. And I congratulate the conference organizers for supporting it. Yesterday we had a second in a series of three of these leadership events. One where we had current leaders and it was a very spectacular evening, and so let’s see whether the predominantly male power tonight can match the energy that came out of the second one.

(applause)

Perhaps the strongest message that came out of this conference to the whole world is that leadership makes a difference. Maybe I should rather say it makes the difference. And this is what it’s all about tonight. These are our champions. Their commitment to the fight against AIDS makes them stand tall before fellow leaders. And they are leading by example. There is no substitute for personal commitment, and when you deal with AIDS you cannot do that with only your brain. You need the left side of your brain, the right side of your brain, and your heart. And that’s what is here.

(applause)

And one of the most important lesions we’ve learned in 15, 20 years fighting AIDS is that the most effective sort of education is peer education. It works for young people, it works for taxi drivers, it works for rig-shaw drivers. So, may I suggest that it can also work for heads of state, for Prime Ministers --

{applause)

We need you to be the champions of AIDS among your peers, the world leaders. And you need also to take a message to the public stage, because we know that the world’s media are getting tired of the same story, even if this conference is showing an all time high in terms of media coverage, and we need to keep AIDS at the top of the political agenda. As I said in my opening speech, we are moving into new areas as far as AIDS is concerned -- the area where AIDS is one of the top political issues of today. In this room at this conference we have all the experts, the activists, the journalists, and your presence here completes the circle that leads those to action.

Let me now introduce Sandy Thurman, my dear friend and leader of the International AIDS Trust. It was her idea and we are engaged in a long journey, where our ambitions are very high and it’s all around leadership. Sandy?

SANDY THURMAN: Thank you, Peter.

(applause)

Well, we’re all here this evening to talk about the way that political leadership at the highest level -- we think it’s important to acknowledge at the outset that leadership occurs at all levels and from all sectors. In many ways, bright leaders are not defined by their positions they hold, but by the spirit of skill they bring to those opportunities. In a democracy, it is said that where the people lead the leaders will follow. And, it’s the only way, in my countries and in other’s as well, the community leaders on the front line, from people infected and affected by HIV, have sounded the alarm and developed effective and compassionate prevention and treatment programs that are now our response to AIDS. Many dedicated workers and leaders feel, not just this stage, but this room and this conference -- and before we go any further in our discussion, I want to salute all of you for your leadership, for your tireless commitment and for your efforts in our shared battle against AIDS.

(applause)

But, this is an historic evening. Never before have world leaders, Presidents and Prime Ministers come to an AIDS conference to add their voices to the dialog and to joined with us in strategizing about how we can best accelerate our collective response so that it begins to match the magnitude of the crisis. We are at a critical junction in the global fight against AIDS.

This is our 14th international AIDS Conference. In the past few years, we have come together and declared our commitment to action against AIDS from New York to New Delhi, from Abuja to Barcelona, and the good news is in all of this is that we know what works. We now have the [Unintelligible] for action that identifies goals and benchmarks for charting our progress. In fact, a report from this conference reveals that we could save nearly 30 million lives by simply applying what we already know. Clearly, we have the knowledge, we have hope, and we have plenty of opportunities. What we need now are the collective will and the resources to put our vision into action. As Ghandi said, “we must become the change that we want to see.” That it will not happen without the active commitment and engagement of political leaders starting from the very top. With your power and with their influence, together we can rage a real war on AIDS.

It is for that reason that we are so pleased to have this group of real champions with us here this evening. As world leaders, the capacity to help turn the tide is boundless. Each demonstrated what a difference leadership can make, and tonight, as we go forward, I am sure that they will continue to do just that. It’s been said that when the Spirit awakes, it transforms roles. But that it is not awakened without a challenge. Leadership against AIDS is that challenge, because leadership saves lives. I look forward to tonight’s dialog and to a major mobilization that emerges here and continues to build around the world as we move toward Bangkok.

It is now my pleasure to introduce our moderator for this evening, a tireless warrior in the fight against AIDS in Thailand and around the world, a UNAIDS Ambassador, a Senator, a Chairman of the Population and Community Development Association of Thailand -- Mechai Viravaidya.

(applause)

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Thank you very much, indeed, Sandy, Excellencies, ladies and gentleman. It’s also been said that leadership means bounding rhetoric and taking action. We are pleased to have with us tonight a group of leaders in the fight against AIDS who have done just that. So, without any further delay, let me introduce to you the champions who’ve joined us for this historic evening. And, we have a special formula of introduction, which will be kept as a secret at this stage. Firstly, the President of Portugal, Mr. Jorge Sampaio. Mr. Paul Kadami [Misspelled?] -- President of the Republic of Rwanda. Dr. Pacoal Mocumbi, Prime Minister of Mozambique. Another physician, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of Kitts and Nevis. Mr. Ali Hassan Muwinia [Misspelled?], former President of Tanzania. Mr. William Jefferson Clinton, former President of the United States of America. It appears he is the star of the show. And, of course, amongst us a lady, Ms. Kim Campbell, former Prime Minster of Canada. And, finally, the second largest population in the world, representing India, Mr. Ica Fucheral [Misspelled?], Former Prime Minster of India. I don’t believe I have forgotten anyone.

Ladies and gentleman, so that we remember throughout our conversation that this evening is not about facts and figures, but about faces and families. We’d like to begin with a brief video presentation –- “AIDS: It’s the World’s Fight.”

[clip unintelligible]

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Ladies and gentleman, allow me to call on each of our leaders to provide us with a brief opening statement, beginning with Mr. Sampio, President of Portugal.

(applause)

MR. SAMPIO: Thank you very much. Thank you very much Mr. moderator, and all leaders here present. May I just say that, to begin with, I didn’t think of myself as a champion of anything. I would prefer the word “militant” in relation to this cause.

(applause)

Seeing the difficulty we have in front of us, it would be more modest, I would say. Now let me thank President Clinton and Mr. Mandala for the invitation to take part in this session. I want to, of course, express my appreciation to organizers of this Conference and to all of those who are here from around the world, and I think we owe a lot to what you are doing, what you are enduring, and I do hope that we can help and that we all together can continue.

The question is, can leadership make a difference in the fight against AIDS? I offer one phrase, “Other peoples problems are our problems too.” So, let me just mention my experience with the drug problems which I devoted a great deal of attention. Following points -- there must be a willingness to openly discuss the problem, not ignore it or pretend it does not exist. Second, we must be willing to discuss with people of different perspectives and forms of knowledge about the problem. Third, we must listen to those with a direct experience of the problem, including those who suffer. These are essential steps to establish as rigorously as possible the dimension of the problem and it’s causes.

Then we must openly discuss alternatives and priorities to address the problem. This is necessary because strategies must be implemented with the full participation of the communities affected by it. Once strategies to address the problem are in place, we must evaluate their impact. Finally, it is my intent to keep an open mind and continuously learn every day about the problem, because it keeps changing.

This is what I try to do about jobs in Portugal. I think it’s working, at least in so far as promoting a more open discussion, reducing stigma and discrimination attached to [Unintelligible] and making it politically possible to follow different courses of action. In this way, we [Unintelligible] measures to reduce risk, such for example as needle exchange programs. Laws would also change to make drug addiction an illness instead of a crime. We have moved, but we also learned that there is an ongoing [Unintelligible].

As we look at this devastating AIDS epidemic, the first and absolute priority is to confront it openly at every level of society. We have wasted a lot of time in the past. Now we have to make up for it. We must act immediately. Not only in those countries with overwhelming rates of infection, but also in those -- mainly the most vulnerable ones -- in which the epidemic is beginning to grow at frightening speeds. Thanks to the United Nations Special Session, where many of us were present, we have gained vital awareness of the dimension of the problem and it’s economic and social consequences, which we are still far from turning the tides. Our primary responsibility is to make sure that AIDS remains high on the political agenda. We must persevere.

Insist that the United Nations look for the more direct means of reaching people, especially those who are at a greater risk of catching the disease. First and foremost -- women and the others such as drug addicts. We must address the issues related to sexuality and indefinitely remove the stigma associated with the disease. We must rally support and resources and act with speed and determination. We must promote involvement of all those who can positively influence the conduct of populations. I appeal to more action from the media, more action from public figures, spokesman, for example, to enhance the impact of these initiatives in addition to the really relevant work already carried out by the NGOs.

I would also like to see a stronger role played by churches and religious confessions, which can add a greater social commitment –-

(applause)

-- which can add a greater social commitment to this urgent humanitarian situation. I see I have to make a particular reference to the countries of the communities of Portuguese-speaking countries, like Mozambique, and namely to the African members of this community. They are being hit hard by this disease, which is raising a difficult economic and social situation. So, I do hope they find, and I think that the Prime Minister of Mozambique will mention it, the resources to fight it as they want to fight it, as they are now trying to do.

I know there is no absolute criteria to classify people’s suffering, but no one will question the fact that AIDS is causing some of the most painful and wide-spread forms of human suffering today. Let us then use them as an incentive to boldly move forward to set up institutions and solidarity networks with a universal vocation.

The Global Fund should be but the first step. The next step should be based on the recognition that AIDS cannot be successfully tackled in isolation without addressing, as well, issues such as poverty and gender inequality.

(applause)

As globalization gathers speed, there is less and less room for distinctions between other people’s problems and our own. There are only human problems. In order to address them, we need ethical firmness and forceful actions. Our own dignity is at stake.

I do hope that the next time more European leaders and presidents will be present in a session like this. Thank you very much.

(applause)

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Thank you, very much indeed, sir. Next, may I call upon Mr. Kadami, President of the Republic of Rwanda.

(applause)

MR. KADAMI: Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. Many thanks to the organizers of this conference, in particular I would like to thank former President Bill Clinton and the [Unintelligible] internationals -- Ms. Sandra Thurman, President of AIDS Trust [Unintelligible] for inviting me to speak on the way leadership an effective national and international AIDS Conference, for HIV-AIDS. I believe that one of the countries most effected by HIV-AIDS, allow me to share with you the experience and wisdom we have gained, and in particular, the place that leadership aspires in the battle against this scourge.

Statistics indicating the destructive impact of HIV-AIDS have [Unintelligible] loud and clear, and we have witnessed it all ourselves -- day in, day out. We need no further evidence of the extent of this catastrophe and the magnitude of the task that faces us as leaders. In the face of the mounting statistics and the global AIDS challenge, our people, more than ever, look to us for a vision, a sense of direction and a shared sense of purpose. The key is in the situations of heightened uncertainty that high-level leaderships must influence. The masses [Unintelligible] and inspires leadership that finds opportunity in the face of challenges -- leadership that uses creative operatives to solve such a seemingly insurmountable problem.

Over the past two years, world leaders have made commitments on how they are going to tackle the global fight against HIV-AIDS. They are committed in the decoration of commitments. Note that in the last U.N. special session on HIV-AIDS in New York last year, female African Leaders gathered in a [Unintelligible] in December 2000 and Abuja in 2001 and paraded past new National and Regional efforts to fight AIDS. Their call was made to engage leadership, at all levels of society, to make prevention and care the central focus of our response and to commit more of our National Resources in this endeavors.

Given the magnitude of this scourge and the rapid rate at which our peoples and communities are affected, these commitments were made to ensure immediate and rapid response. We therefore need to ask ourselves what has been achieved since all of these declarations were made and what more needs to be done?

Have National budgets been increased? Have these programs involved the most vulnerable [Unintelligible] from the local populations? Have most of the local populations have access to treatment? These are questions we should ask ourselves. The key is in this context, that in Rwanda we have set up a large, central National Commission that coordinates all the activities that led to this epidemic. This framework is implicated at the provincial and district levels. We have mounted a national campaign to educate our people and [Unintelligible] leadership at all levels of our administration and in all sectors of our society. Governments, private sector, civil society, religions organizations, women’s organizations, and youth organizations have all been engaged and encouraged to put quite an effort into the fight against HIV-AIDS.

We have had enlisted them all and inculcated into them the spirit of leadership for it is when we become leaders of leaders that our effort is a truly concerted and focused. This way, our strategies and action plans can permeate all facets of life in our nation so that the world is not only [Unintelligible] organization and management.

We also need to become sovereign leaders dedicated to saving those who have been marginalized by HIV-AIDS, especially the most vulnerable of our people who should and must be involved in the policymaking. As leaders, we must take responsibility to ensure that the national programs meet the needs of our corporations, that the national budget conform to the commitments made, that to actively engage the measure [Unintelligible] to reduce the bureaucracy currently attached to the leaders of committed funds, and finally to strongly and consistently advocate for immediate access to treatment drugs.

(applause)

In the conclusion, ladies and gentleman, let us plan to do away with the [Unintelligible]. We must show qualities of courage and be able to convey a compelling vision of a better future, mindful that we must remain accountable that we have kept our promises and deliver on them.

(applause)

Above all, we must continue to walk together for there is, indeed, a lot that still can, and must, be done. In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Walking together is success.” Thank you very much.

(applause)

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Thank you, very much indeed Mr. President. Next, I have the honor to call upon Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi, Prime Minister of Mozambique.

(applause)

DR. MOCUMBI: I must start by thanking the opportunity we have together at this level to address a crisis. It is in context of crisis of an emergency that people can produce leaders, who are [Unintelligible] as champions. I see that we are beginners of a challenge of becoming champions. I told President Clinton, before we came here, that I wish that this is not the end, because we are meeting Barcelona, but that this is the beginning of a partnership that will last until we win against HIV-AIDS.

(applause)

Given the challenge and the nature of AIDS evolution, it has not been easy to get a perfect focus in facing the crisis. Leaders sometimes wait until they get the [Unintelligible] of a problem before taking action. This is why you may say we are late in reaching this stage. That as leaders -- former, past, present, future -- we take seriously this matter as a global challenge by deeds, by action, and not by talking. I have learned from the experience of my country that AIDS cannot be dealt with [Unintelligible] through the ministry of health. It is a matter of life. And life cannot be conceded. I challenge [Unintelligible] for the needs it has –- this is the duty of hospitals and for prevention.

Life requires a complimentary of action of all sectors. That’s why, in my country, we decided that we must have a clear-cut plan of action that will bring together all of the big societies, organize the costs, international council, which is headed at the highest level by the Prime Minister. The [Unintelligible] families of the country is head of state but I have by delegation, the responsibility.

We think that on our own, our country cannot succeed. That’s why I encourage all of those who are present here to make sure that, in the next conference, we deliver what we are supposed to do. Since 2001 at United Nations Assembly presentation on AIDS we have made a commitment. We are to move from commitment to action. And, action, to date, means first of all, that while keeping prevention at [Unintelligible] particularly prevention that addresses the youth.

Young leaders appeared at the United Nations Special Session on Children and they spoke loudly and clearly that they want to be involved in matters that concern them. They spoke about the risk that children, particularly girls’ health, are being infect by adults who still believe that by having sexual relations with girls, the youngest possible, will prevent contamination. We have to address this clearly and loudly at this level -- and, mainly at the government level.

(applause)

While keeping focused on prevention, demand make available and affordable the means that are known -- medicines, vaccines, for AIDS [Unintelligible] yet, but we are informed that action is [Unintelligible]. We have to make them available. Mozambique has diseases that are killing millions. For this there are medicines, there are vaccines, but we have not yet gathered the needed resources to make these resources available for all those who are in need.

Because, our capacity to [Unintelligible] resources to cover the fatalities of our citizens of our nations are insufficient. That’s why at this level, the challenge is how are we going to deliver the means that are needed to really make medicine that are used to prolong life of those who are living with AIDS available at an affordable price.

We have to make sure that we do have a change in attitude and behavior, particularly, to end the stigma discrimination that still exists. Not only in Africa, but also in other Countries. I was speaking, just before coming here, with people living with AIDS who are present here who said that this was a major challenge.

(applause)

In the past, leaders from my country, they criticize us for not having clear political commitment. This is not the case today. Africa has established a clear-cut program that will take Africa to a new era of development that we have decided to take it in out hands. But, we need the support and the resources; we know that the commitment -- [Unintelligible] is here next to me. He said that resources are not enough to face the challenge of HIV-AIDS. You would not believe it. Those who are in a position to do so are compelled to believe us. Lastly, during the last Special Session on AIDS, we said we are building the initiative for establishing the Global Fund.

Today in Barcelona it was said the Global Fund is there, but it is still not getting the resources needed to restore the needs that have been presented by countries that suffer more of the AIDS epidemic. One of those countries was Mozambique. We have not yet gotten support from this fund. It is urgent that this year resources be allocated to the fund to ensure that we will respond clearly to the crisis. Access to the funds should not be subject to cumbersome bureaucratic mechanisms, which delay the deliver to those in need.

(applause)

The [Unintelligible] of those funds, should be, as it is foreseen [Unintelligible] so that those in need can benefit effectively from it. No commitment, we declare today, would achieve the expected results if adequate resources are not provided consistently and on a sustained manner.

As a medical professional now linked to politics, I would like to speak to my colleagues, to myself. We have to face the challenge of resistance that is now acknowledged to the [Unintelligible] methods that are available, so that would have to accept community, our freedom of prescription and respond correctly to the rules of normal procedure so that we don’t meet with this trend of medical trend resistance. Two, as medical professionals, we should live through action, talking to our patients who are HIV positive so that they can inform their partners, “I am positive. Please take care. Let us have safe-sex.” I thank you.

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Thank you, very much indeed, Mr. Prime Minister. I am delighted that you ended on safe sex.

(laughter)

May I be slightly impertinent in suggesting that we have a dialog session to come so, if it is at all possible, we’ll just slightly shorten, where possible, and where it pleases you, we would be delighted and move on. I know that is very, very difficult to have such wonderful people, great leaders and to give them such a short time, but I guess that’s a reality of life today.

Next, may I please invite another doctor, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of Kitts and Nevis.

DR. DOUGLAS: Thank you Mr. Moderator. Fellow panelists, I wish to take this opportunity firstly to express briefly my own appreciation to President Bill Clinton and to Sandra Thurman, of the International AIDS Trust for your invitation to participate in this important conference that addresses political leadership issues surrounding HIV-AIDS. I was spokesperson on HIV-AIDS and other health issues for the 15 member countries of the Caribbean community -– promise me to place into perspective our own concerns about the pandemic and how it impacts other people and other colonies.

Needless to say, the issues surrounding HIV-AIDS are substantial and serious. They are complex and they are inter-related. Caribbean leaders today therefore have become highly committed to the fight against HIV-AIDS. Especially given the fact that the next to sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean is the second hardest-hit region in the world, in terms of prevalence and incidence.

As leaders, therefore, we must become aware that the strategic plan of the Caribbean, epidemiologists [Unintelligible], points out that there is a shift in the demographic pattern of HIV-AIDS in the Caribbean region. It indicates, for example, that increasing numbers of our young populations are becoming effected. The prevalence of the disease in young females, in the 15 to 24 age range, in particular, is two to four times higher than in other female age groups. And it is three to six times higher than males in the same age group looked at.

In addition, mother-to-child transmission is increasing, and as political leaders, we are very, very concerned. Overall, AIDS is the major cause of death in Caribbean region. The persons who are in the age group 15 to 34 years old. Quite clearly, the spread of HIV-AIDS in the region is one of the great personal stress to family members, to individuals, and, of course to us as political leaders. But, more than that, the change in profile of the epidemic in the Caribbean have already begun to impact fundamentally, not only on the health sector, but also the economic resources in the region, in terms of the loss of human potential and productivity.

Our Caribbean experience has brought into clear focus a number of strategies that must be carried out in a sustained and integrated manner. It is our [Unintelligible] that strategies and programs -- they must be balanced; they must be integrated to dealing with issues of prevention, issues of care and support. The solutions must involve governments. It must involve the NGOs; it must involve individuals, people – real people who are living with HIV-AIDS.

As leaders, we are ensuring that we galvanize the human, the technical and the financial resources to take this fight forward, and to shape the environment that is essential for a successful assault on HIV-AIDS. We are moving rapidly to implement all multi-sectorial approaches that are required and engage international agencies much more effectively.

At the same time, we as leaders of the Caribbean community have to be highly proactive in enhancing access to education, medicines and health care. I assure each of you today that we have not forgotten that there are other critically related issues surrounding HIV-AIDS.

I give, for example, the relationship with poverty, with loss of jobs, with food and security, with poor nutrition, with poor general relations, with inadequate communications between sexual partners, and with social and religions taboos, just to name a few. These are highly problematic areas that require our significant attention as leaders to overcome. Although, we as leaders must be such that we promote un-engages systems, that allows for national dialog and national action. Certainly, the nature of the problem suggests a long and painful struggle. But through leadership, I stress, through leadership in the fight against HIV-AIDS must be epitomized by it’s relentless and uncompromising use of policies and actions that are timely and in keeping with the urgency of the current situation.

Further, our leaders must take the necessary decisions and implement the necessary actions that would lead to increased international financial support, which is required for the research, for reduced cost and wider pharmaceutical availability to the millions of people around the world. We in the Caribbean have taken bold steps to procure cheaper drugs for our people.

Only yesterday, on behalf of the Pan-Caribbean, I signed an agreement with six pharmaceutical companies –- I demanded corporation and continued dialog that will bring cheaper drugs and will build the capacity of the Caribbean region in dealing with this pandemic.

(applause)

True leadership must be seen in the strategies and the programs, geared at changing source of attitudes and discrimination against persons living with HIV-AIDS. It means calling among my own fellow Caribbean leaders to become much more knowledgeable, to become much more sensitive in dealing with this particular disease. In the process, however, one must realize that while legislative action is necessary in some areas, the vast amount of work that is required involves broad-based collaborative approaches -- approaches between the public and the private sectors and with non-governmental organizations, and with people, real people, living with HIV-AIDS. And so, in closing, ladies and gentleman, I use this occasion once again, and give my own personal commitment on behalf of the government of the Caribbean Community to continue implementing the institutional and the program structures that are critical in our fight against this disease.

But, we also call to increase international resources of assistance for our region and other areas of the world that have extreme difficulties -- difficulties in dealing with the cost and technical aspects of the disease. It is my hope, therefore, that our present participation as leaders at this conference will farther solidify our active approaches in the worldwide fight against the spread of HIV-AIDS and in improving and prolonging the quality of life of real people living with HIV-AIDS. Thank you.

(applause)

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Thank you very much indeed, Mr. Prime Minister. Now, we’ve heard from current presidents and prime ministers and, unfortunately they had to stick to a fairly lengthy speech. Now you have come to former Presidents and Prime Ministers, who have been there and have learned how to shorten their speech.

(laughter)

I’m sure we would like to hear more, but we are afraid all the restaurants in Barcelona will be closed. Next may I kindly invite Mr. Ali Hassan Muwinia, former president of Tanzania, sir?

MR. ALI HASSAN MUWINIA: Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, ladies and gentleman. I feel very honored to be part of this team tonight to discuss and share experiences in the struggle against the HIV-AIDS epidemic globally, and in our individual countries. It is my great honor, first and foremost, to thank the Director General of UNAIDS, Dr. Peter Piot, and my longtime friend Mr. Bill Clinton, former president of the United States of America, for co-sponsoring this occasion. I thank you for the deep-thinking initiation and organization of this meeting today.

Ladies and gentleman, my tenure as President of the United Republic of Tanzania from 1985 to 1995 was a time when HIV-AIDS in Tanzania was maturing. It was the night-time, when in 1986 all of the 25 regions of the United Republic of Tanzania reported at least one case of HIV-AIDS, rising the figure from the first one reported in 1983 to a community total of 1,525 cases by then. This number has risen to over 130,000 as of the end of the year 2000. As you may recall, we are struggling through different stages and obstacles in trying to control this epidemic over the years. We are to learn and to know what sort of epidemic we are meeting with in the first place -- how the virus was being transmitted from one person to another and how it was still heading into our communities.

We realized from early on that the virus was predominantly sexually transmitted. As this fact became more widely known, it quickly spread panic and horror as well as great confusion to our people. The horror and confusion was due to the fact that all of us were at risk as we are all sexually active.

(applause)

The major drawback was encountered in this struggle as leaders in our different countries, and it still lingers on even today, is denial.

(applause)

Where there is denial, unfortunately, the other brother and sister, stigma and discrimination, are also there. This trio is a major stumbling block in our efforts to bring about total community response to the epidemic. Denial and stigma [Unintelligible] have severely affected our responses on almost all levels. Denial at a national level has resulted in [Unintelligible] of the seriousness of the epidemic. Denial at lower levels has created a [Unintelligible] for community responses. And stigma has magnified this all.

As leaders, therefore, we are duty-bound to fight denial, stigma and discrimination. So as a champion, our different nations’ responses to the epidemic. Mr. Chairman, lead us in the battle against HIV-AIDS and therefore be defined as the resolution that we have a duty and role to play in order to spearhead a number of issues, for example, community organization for the struggle, resource mobilization, allocation and optimal utilization; [Unintelligible] denial, stigma and discrimination at all settings; willingness to provide support, materially and morally, for the right for the fight against HIV-AIDS; certain qualities conducive for [Unintelligible] and everybody else involved in the struggle; a friendly environment for high-risk population groups to access [Unintelligible] and other interventions; and, finally provide opportunities for individuals in the private sector, including faith and community-based organizations to utilize their potentials and resources for the fight against the epidemic.

Mr. Chairman, in this epidemic, as you may see, leadership will basically encompass quite a lot of issues beyond what others citizens are expected to do. What is required is a vision and understanding of the nature of the epidemic we are dealing with. It is an evolving epidemic with complex humanitarian issues coming up almost every day. We have to be on the alert all the time. As leaders, we are role models in everything. The way we speak or talk, the way we walk, the way we dress and sometimes the way we seem to like all these life things around us, including our attitudes toward such things as conduct.

A leader who speaks positively about condoms will influence many people to use condoms.

(applause)

But any leader who hates condoms should expect many people underneath him or her to do the same and jeopardize the fight.

(applause)

Leadership is therefore, a commitment, dedication, sometime sacrifice so that other people lead a decent and dignified life. Thank you.

(applause)

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: And thank you very much, Mr. President, you have brought it out in the open and I have come down for every panelist here. But, may I also suggest, Mr. President, if you would make a visit to the United States of America where we have NIKE and asked them to produce some NIKE condoms. Excellencies, ladies and gentleman, our President has done a great deal for the world and now he can serve the world, rather than the United States. President Clinton.

WILLIAM CLINTON: I was just thinking that, in fact, if NIKE got into the condom business, someone would have a field day with their logo. I like to thank Peter Piot, for the wonderful work he has done for the UN and thank you, Sandy Thurman and thank all of the other leaders who have come today. I will be very brief. I want to hear the others speak and I want to have their dialogue. I would like to focus on a very narrow issue, here, which is what should the politicians be doing now? You are, all of you in this audience, you are really the heroes of this meeting and the heroes of the 20 years of this struggle and most of what people like me have done you’ve kind of dragged out of us over the course of 20 years by educating us and continuing to make head-way. And, I wanted to begin by telling you not to be discouraged. One of the things that Bono taught me is that I should never presuppose that I cannot convince anyone to do the right thing on an issue of real humanitarian magnitude. [applause] And, I think that it is amazing that Senator Helms, on his way out of the Senate wanted to put another 500 million dollars into the fight against AIDS and I think that’s an example of what we can do if we don’t write anyone off and we give everybody a chance to work together and keep learning.

Now, the second thing I want to say to you is you should not be discouraged, because all of these numbers are overwhelming and there have been no medical breakthroughs, and I know a lot of you are worn down. And, if you’re HIV positive, you may be even frightened. But, I would like to say that there is a greater level of understanding and support on the political leadership of the world across the lines that otherwise divide people than I’ve ever seen.

So, what should the political leaders be doing? First, we start with the facts. You have an epidemic that will, if not turn, be the worst thing since the bubonic plague felled a quarter of Europe in the 14th century.

Second, we know that it’s preventable, we know there is medicine which turns it from a death sentence to a chronic illness and which prevents mother to child transmission. And, we know there is country after country where, with prevention alone, and with prevention plus medicine, the tide has been turned. Now, these are the things we know. We know the Secretary General of the United Nations has estimated that $10 billion a year for several years would be required to actually turn the tide. What should we do?

I think, first of all, the rich countries should figure out what they owe and commit to pay, and pay in a timely fashion. Second, the advocates and the people representing the poorer countries with high infection rates should figure out how to get the money.

And then, how--what to do with it. And, so let me make some very specific suggestions, and then I’ll turn the floor back to the--to our distinguished moderator. First of all, in South Africa a year and a half ago, a court accepted a settlement from the drug companies, in which they said they would provide drugs to poor countries, developing countries, at lower cost. And then, since then, a lot of things have happened and the U.N. has even certified some generics that are anti-HIV drugs. But, very few countries have actually cut their deal. So, one of the best things that’s happened at this conference is that, yesterday, the 15 Caribbean countries announced as a region they had cut a deal. So, I will use this--so, the first thing that needs to be done is everybody else needs to make the same deal. You either need to make a deal you can live with with the drug companies, or the Brazilians have announced they’re going to provide generics of Cipro and Indian companies announced they are, because this needs to be done and done now, quickly.

The second thing is we then will be in a position to figure out how to pay for this. So, let’s--if I’m making this up, let’s suppose Country X, with a per capita income of $1,800 a year, cuts a deal to get the drugs for $500 a year. And, the government says, “We can afford only $50 a year.” So, then you’d have to find a way to get the rich countries to meet the difference. You say, “Okay. We need--we have 500,000 people affected and we need $450 dollars a year, a person.” And, Peter can go around and harass people to come up with the money. Because this is very serious.

It is much easier, for example, I’ve been--the Caribbean, as you have heard, not only is the second biggest problem area in the world; it also has the second fastest growing rate. So, my wife represents 600,000 people from the Dominican Republic in New York alone, in the U.S. Senate. So, you can come to America and say, “Okay.” The Caribbeans should do this. They should say, “Okay. We cut our deal. This is what we’re paying for these drugs. This is what we can afford to pay. You know what the per capita income in our countries are. The people can’t afford to pay much. This is how much we need to fill the gap. Will you give it to us?” They should come to us and we should provide the money. The U.S. and Canada should provide that money for the Caribbean. That’s what we should do. So--but, it’s easier, you see. It’s easier to do something specific. So, I think that’s very important.

Then, I think, we need to--the second thing that I was impressed by, that this conference has produced, is that report that says that two-thirds of the projected increase in AIDS among young people can be averted by proper prevention, which is why our moderator is waving the condom flowers here. Now, we need to figure out what that costs and get prior prevention assessment. But, we have a plan here.

Oh, and then, the third thing I think we have to remember is that the wealthy countries and the drug companies should keep working for a vaccine and a cure. So, I think we need to have, in the allocation of this--you shouldn’t be discouraged about this. I still believe the sequencing of the human genome will permit us to develop, within the next few years, an effective AIDS vaccine. And, I believe that--one of the things I’ve tried to do but I failed to do when I was President, is to get the Congress to give me the 25 percent tax credit to offer to the pharmaceutical companies to join with the government funds in the medical research for a vaccine and a cure.

So, that’s my take on this. We need a framework so that you--so that the politicians can hold themselves accountable and you can hold them accountable, and you’re asking them to do something besides give you sympathy. And, you’re asking for something besides just a check and they don’t know whether it will work or not.

There are proven prevention programs. We have the medicine, and now, we’re making these agreements. We’re seeing these agreements. So, my advice is push every country you can to make their deals with the drug companies. If the deals are unsatisfactory, go to Brazil or India, the U.N. is [Unintelligible] the drug--the drug. And then, come to the rest of us and say, “Okay. Here’s what we need. Here’s what we need for medicine. Here’s what we need for prevention.” And, don’t forget that, in the end, we have to keep going until we find a vaccine or two and we’ve got to keep doing this. And, that requires money independent of this, so I urge you to push this.

If you follow this framework, it will be much easier for the politicians and countries that may be--that have the money but have a lot of competing claims. And, have people putting all kinds of different pressures on them, it will be much easier for us to get all of them to say “yes” in ways that will save millions of lives. So, I thank you. And, those are my best ideas.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, indeed, Mr. President. And, if you go to India and Brazil and it’s still too expensive, come to Thailand. Three hundred dollars a year. Of course, our only lady former leader is with us, Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada and also Chair of the Women Who Were Leaders. These are former leaders who are women.

KIM CAMPBELL: And, some in Paris, too.

MODERATOR: And, some in Paris, too.

KIM CAMPBELL: I’ll make the same offer--I’ll make the same offer as I made last night at the Women’s Leadership Panel. There are 29 living, who either are or have been President or Prime Minister of their country. And, I’ll give $100 to anybody who, this evening, can give me a list of all 29. I don’t know if you’re just very competitive or if you don’t get a pension. I’m not sure.

Is it in? Okay. This is not from what President Clinton said. The--I mean, it’s interesting to look at this panel tonight, because we are leaders and former leaders from all the different regions of the world, including Senator Condom over there who represents Asia. And, I think, the challenge for leadership varies from country to country. If you look at the map that indicates HIV incidents, my own country, Canada, is a very pale color. And, when my own involvement in AIDS issues was at its peak was when I was in government, and I served at all three levels of government. And, always served the constituency of Vancouver, Vancouver Center, which has the highest incidence of AIDS of any part of Canada. We had the first needle exchange program. [applause]

With a country--there was a time when the concerns were very much related to the human rights of the gay community, in particular. To questions of intravenous drug use and to getting the funds for research. Because, and those were--when I first became involved in the issue in the 1980s, the diagnosis of HIV was, in fact, a death sentence. But, it’s changed dramatically now.

I think one of the challenges for leaders from the developed countries is to keep current with what is happening with HIV/AIDS. The demographics are enormously different. Even in my own country, the portion of people who are HIV positive who are women has grown dramatically. And, not simply because of sexual activity, but also because of intravenous drug use. What we heard last night in a remarkable panel of women leaders was, of course, the overwhelming and disproportionate amount of women among new infections. And so, the challenge that we face, as leaders, is partly a challenge of money. And, I--it’s absolutely important. It’s absolutely important. We know what to do.

We have real hope now which, 15 years ago, we didn’t. We now have real possibilities and the barriers that are in place are largely financial. But, they are also of another source that engages political leaders. And, that is, the legal and social and cultural barriers that make it difficult for people to access the mechanisms that we know about.

And so, the new demographics of AIDS forces us to go back to the drawing board and rethink what are the human rights challenges now? There were always, and continue to be, human rights challenges for the rights of the gay community but, also, much more fundamentally now, in terms of the priority, are the human rights of women. And, one of the things--one of the things that struck me last night--I was very energized and I want to express my gratitude to the International AIDS Trust Fund by inviting you to participate in this program because I have learned an enormous amount and I have been really galvanized at the possibilities that I now have. And, one of the advantages of not being in public office, you’re not running for anything, so you can actually brattle on forever and nobody--. But, it’s that you can pick and choose the issues that you’re most passionate about. And, use the doors that you’ve been able to open, use the contacts you have, use the pulpits that you have, to focus on those issues.

And, my key passions are the advancement of women and the spread of democratization. And, both of those are very much related to the challenge that HIV/AIDS presents to us. Because the countries that are deeply affected by HIV/AIDS are not going to have the political development they need while they’re facing this epidemic. It is a terrible drain on their human resources. I mean, it is a tragedy that the best and the brightest are being lost to a terrible disease that could be prevented.

But, secondly, the advancement of women. I think there are opportunities now to engage women in developed countries to rethink their position with respect to AIDS and dedicate themselves to advancing the human rights of women all around the world. Peter Piot said last night that AIDS has not really been embraced by the women’s movement, and I think you’re right. I think it’s partly because, in countries like Canada and the United States, we don’t see it as--it’s an issue, but it’s not the one that’s most important. But, women are, more and more, in developed countries, becoming concerned with the rights of women all over the world.

And, the AIDS epidemic really presents us with enormous challenge. And so, what we know is that the health policies that are developed in the countries that are most hard-hit by HIV/AIDS cannot succeed without the protection of the human rights of people with AIDS. And, we heard today in our meeting with PW AIDS of the continuing discrimination that they face. And, without protecting the rights of women. It’s easier said than done. Even in our own countries, it’s important for us to remember that the advancement of women wasn’t something--it’s, in many ways, relatively recent.

I can remember a time when things like domestic violence was considered to be private. When police were called to domestic violence incidents and wouldn’t intervene. “No. No. That’s a private matter.” It has been a struggle over the last 20 or 30 years to force the State to recognize that women have a right to the integrity of their bodies, even within marriage, and their right to be protected from abuse and violence.

And so, the leaders of the developed democracies have, I think, a particular obligation to become missionaries and advocates for the legal structures that have been recently put into place in their own country to protect human rights; particularly, the human rights of gay people and of women.

I think we face the challenge of education. One of the things I’m concerned about in my own country is the fact that young gay men are, in many cases, don’t have that same sense of peril that men 10 or 20 years older have. We have to keep the education about how this disease is transmitted, how people can protect themselves in all ways. But, also, one of the things that leaders can do is to help to keep our own population up to speed, educated, about the implications of HIV/AIDS for all of the things that we value in the world. Human rights, political stability, to keep the political constituency for the funds that we can afford to give to help solve the problem. Unless democratic governments feel the pressure from their own populations, in many cases, they will find other priorities.

I’m very pleased that, at the recent G.A. meeting, my Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, has called for a major commitment of G.A. countries for financial resources to support Africa. And, much of that money--it all should be forthcoming, and much of it should be devoted to tackling HIV/AIDS.

So, I think the important thing is that leadership does count. And, leadership is different in different parts of the world. And, leadership must also be humble about what leaders know. Sometimes, as leaders, we try to lead a little too much. Sometimes, we ought to just kind of be quiet and let the people that we’re trying to serve and help tell us what they need. So, what we need is intelligent, responsive leadership. [applause]

And, I hope that next year, when they have this leadership panel that, in addition to having a whole day of issues discussed related to women in leadership, that there will be half and half on this panel of women and men talking about the relative issues. Thank you. [applause]

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Thank you very much, indeed, Madame Prime Minister. I hope you have your $100 waiting. I think there’s somebody working on it, almost there.

KIM CAMPBELL: She’s up to 17.

MODERATOR: Up to 17 so far.

KIM CAMPBELL: I think my money’s safe.

MODERATOR: President Clinton wanted to know what you said.

KIM CAMPBELL: I said, I think my money’s safe.

WILLIAM CLINTON: I’m getting there.

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, the second largest country in Asia and soon to be the largest country in Asia, India, former Prime Minister, Gujral Rousa [Misspelled?].

GUJRAL ROUSA [Misspelled?]: Thank you. I must say, thank you, President Clinton, for getting us all together here. I think we have learned a lot from each other. We have been suffering separately, but really, no Canadians, Africans [Unintelligible] one of the largest western [Unintelligible]. I think this will go a long way because, luckily, we have learned from each other, this evening, particularly, and I think all of my friends here sitting would share this. We really observed how grave the situation is. We [Unintelligible] sitting in our own countries. We have been looking at our own problems. But, look at the problems in [Unintelligible] held this evening, particularly, from our friends from Africa, Canadians. Now, I see for myself that this [Unintelligible] does not respect any age. It does not respect any country. It does not respect any civilization. Every country is its victim, also, its own quota. Numbers don’t matter. The dangers matter. And, every danger coming up is causing us more difficulty.

When I was listening to my friends from Africa and Canadian, I was thinking that we have some problems in common. Government, problems of [Unintelligible], problems of poverty, problems of population. And, more important, and because of these, too, the tradition and the [Unintelligible] beliefs, that do not let us look out, whether it’s education, whether it is discretion of nations.

I think traditional societies are suffering far more. Therefore, I do believe that we have still the [Unintelligible] and I notice in my own society. We are still [Unintelligible] to believe that this [Unintelligible] is not infectious. It is not contagious. And yet, the people get bad treatment.

I think that President Clinton here, with your permission, then, with the permission of my colleagues, I wish to go back slightly in the history. And, I wish to call, recall, what Ghandi did. We have known Gandhi in different contexts, but I think dimension of Gandhi’s life was how we judged the lepers. I think, at that time, [Unintelligible] contagious disease, he undertook this task. Despite his preoccupation with [Unintelligible]. He would [Unintelligible] and he learned of a leper. He would walk his cottage, dress his wounds himself with his own hands, made some of them come and live with him in his own habitat. Why was he doing so? He was doing it for three reasons. He wanted us to feel ashamed of ourselves who were having this attitude of stigma. He also made us conscious that human is the only thing that matters. And, I think that is something you already pointed out, President Clinton, we are also to be learned from him.

When I think of [Unintelligible] quote, he wrote at length about leprosy at that time. And, one small paragraph that I would like to read. He said, and I quote, “Leprosy work is not merely medical relief. It is transforming of frustration. In life, he grew [Unintelligible] of education, plus ambition. It was selfless service. If you can transform the life of a leprosy patient, or change his values of life, you can change an entire village and, also, the country.” [applause] I think some things which perhaps can be adopted has a [Unintelligible] logo for what [Unintelligible]. I don’t say that we entirely followed him, but I think many of us learn from him. And, therefore, transformed our attitudes. I often worry that when -- if he were alive today, what would have been his attitude towards AIDS? And, I’m certain that he would have told us what we are collectively trying to tell the society today. He would have told us, “Treat them as human beings.” Particularly, it is not even as bad as leprosy was. When we are looking, also, in one sense that, also, Gandhi may not be with us, we have outstanding men with us collectively.

Mandela [Unintelligible] this evening and he will be with us tomorrow morning. Look at what he has done. What humanism he has done. How he succeeded in his own life to transform attitudes. He revived, in that sense, the Gandhian philosophy. But, I do hope that, when he is with us tomorrow morning, he will tell us himself. Help with how to deal with this problem.

Once again, I refer to you, President Clinton. You, when you go to us, you did say, rightly, that now this plague is expecting everybody, so the world is getting together. And, when you here and watch for a day or so at this conference, not only of the officials, but also the Indians in such a large number, I see growing movement out of this. But, I think, therefore, we have also [Unintelligible] in these countries. The [Unintelligible] in the sense that we can possibly tell the world as to what you two have done. I think we must, forcefully and collectively, insists that in the [Unintelligible] property laws, do not let the prophets prevail.

Countries like India, Brazil, Thailand, have proved it is possible to market drugs at a much lesser cost than they were initially being [Unintelligible]. Therefore, competition may have helped, but that is not so important to me as the social attitudes and the collective voice of all of us. I think the only way is that these drugs must be socially priced and not on the market business. And, for this, I would strongly recommend that the patient law must be made such a way that is much lesser term, shorter term, than what the [Unintelligible] it’s been emulating. We should make it almost immediately within their reach.

We could also make it important that [Unintelligible] licensing can be freely available and the AIDS phenomena falls under this category of what is called by the WDOL, an emergency situation. Another dimension to recognize and it is that, contrary to what the patient law [Unintelligible], there should be no restrictions on export of these drugs by [Unintelligible] license holders to any country, in addition to those who do not have the capacity to produce. Unless we do that, it won’t. Well, I think a question can be rightly raised is, “What about the [Unintelligible]?” And, I think, all of us assembled here and you, the unions represented here, need to decide that high subsidy should be given for research by international companies. And, it should not be burdensome [Unintelligible]. Unless we do that, it won’t be easy for us.

Having said that, may I take a minute more and draw your attention to another dimension of it. I think, in this meeting this evening, we have not really so much focused on South Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. These are three regions which we must talk about. Of course, we talk about Afghanistan on a different context. But, also, a part of that, Mr. President, and that is that Afghanistan is now because of that reason, is now the biggest single producer of the drugs than all the others we know.

Also, in my own neighborhood, we live in what is called [Unintelligible] triangle. [Unintelligible] but among all three countries. And, again, they are the biggest growers and also marketers. And, therefore, all the [Unintelligible] that passes through the [Unintelligible] suffer. And, here, may I suggest to you, Mr. Director, Mr. Piot, that please call the video conferences more now. Please call a conference of South Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. It is clear to us who are victims of this, put our heads together and see what we can possibly do.

I think, years ago, Mr. Mandela will be with us tomorrow--tomorrow morning. When I was here, I was thinking and [Unintelligible] that then they were fighting against color discrimination, we used to sing a song that remains part of me, “We Shall Overcome.” Let us decide that, once again, that we shall overcome. [applause] And, therefore, I feel this group of friends who are concerned and bothered [Unintelligible], I hope, in a big way, to change the environment and generate new situations. Thank you. [applause]

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, indeed, Sir. And, ladies and gentlemen, a lot of words spoken, documents written, speaking out, taking action, mobilizing resources, enlisting others, leading by example, promoting hope, engaging people with AIDS, seizing opportunity, persevering. These are the words that, I believe, that action is what our leaders are proposing. And, I’m sure many of us in this room and others outside would be very happy to be the emissary of President Clinton to go and help change the minds, convince and convert, many of the leaders. In particular, Asia, where two-thirds of humankind lives, most of the leaders are far, far behind the leaders we have here today. Please help the leaders of my part of the world be more enlightened and speak out and help and give hope to our cause. And, I hope that, by Bangkok in the year 2004, we will have very clear answers, we’ll have many more leaders on the stage, leaders that make personal commitments and to say that AIDS is important to my life and the lives of my people.

Ladies and gentlemen, there will be many, many more challenges for all of us but, for tonight, to offer us both inspiration and a leadership challenge, I would like to recognize a steadfast leader in the fight against AIDS, the Metropolitan of the Chair to Southern Africa, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini.

ARCHBISHOP EMANNUEL KOLINI: Dear friends, leaders of the nations, and those with compassion and action is desperately needed in a world living with AIDS. I’m here to talk today here with you as we consider the humbling task of turning our shared vision into daily reality for the millions, perhaps hundreds of millions of people, who are looking to us for help. I’m grateful that, today, we can offer hope, but I pray that, soon, very soon, we will deliver much more. We all know that we are confronted with a global catastrophe that is devastating individuals, families, and communities and threatens to undermine governments, to spoil nations and de-civilize entire continents.

We once feared world war, but never imagined that a virus, which cannot even be seen by the naked eye, could cause such widespread despair. Every minute, a child dies of AIDS. Every hour, hundreds of teenagers become HIV infected, and every day, the human and spiritual toll mounts in ways so horrifying, it is almost unimaginable. We, as leaders, must not only face the horror of AIDS, we must summon the strength to [Unintelligible] until [Unintelligible] and we must act to protect those without power; our children.

It has been said that the present is not the legacy of the past, but the future we have borrowed from our children. But AIDS is stealing their future and ours. Millions of children are [Unintelligible] themselves of Africa and elsewhere and the ability to take their rightful place in the leadership of nations is steadily slipping away. We cannot afford to let it happen, but we have let it happen. And, we are letting it happen, still.

It was [Unintelligible] to live up to our sacred obligation to the shepherds and guardians of all of God’s children. We must move more quickly, act more boldly and replace rhetoric with results, starting today. And so, tonight, let me challenge you on several fronts. Firstly, remember that AIDS is everybody’s fight. The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has called AIDS a tragedy of biblical scale, and it now seems clear that our survival is dependent on our solidarity. This is not somebody else’s problem. We are all living with AIDS. That pain--of painful experience have proven again and again that no one is alone, no one should die alone, no community should struggle alone, and no country or continent can solve this alone.

The tragic events of September 11th remind us that we are, indeed, a global village and our shared destiny is delicately intertwined. The God of our history calls each of us to a deeper commitment to the good of us all in every nation, every community, and every village. When our people see their leaders working together to build nations and to save lives, they too will be inspired to do their part. We are called by God to relationships with each other on the bond of our common humanity.

Secondly, stop stigma by speaking out. Stigma and discrimination are scenes counter to all God has given us. To deny the very premise [Unintelligible] someone to all faiths that we are all called, we are all created in the image of God. Stigma destroys self-esteem, decimates families, and denies us the hope of better days to come. Stigma immortalizes in fear and shame and lets AIDS win. We must stop stigma now or pay the price for generations to come. Leaders can speak to martyrs of our human decency and responsibility and each of us must break the silence and speak out often. We can change the way our people respond. So the challenges [Unintelligible] by being principle examples of compassionate justice and committed action. Sadly, making AIDS a prodigy can save lives, both in Africa and globally.

All governments, as scriptures tell us, are subject to and derive their authority from the people and from the role of God. This means that national priorities and policies are shared responsibility by government leaders and the people, pulled together, are accountable before God.

In my own country of South Africa, we have moved from crisis to crisis with our [Unintelligible] we have engaged our political leadership. We have come to table with our government. We have formed a partnership for life with the trade unions, religious communities and people infected with HIV and AIDS. For a fledgling democracy such as ours, it has been challenging, challenging. Nonetheless, hope has prevailed as sober judgment and the reality of compassion have begun to persuade our decision-makers. As with many nations forced to come to terms with nations, we too, have at times had to lift our voices in protest to be heard. At the end of the day, we have come together and [Unintelligible] beyond confrontation. Together we have [Unintelligible] responsibility and [Unintelligible] will judge us harshly if we fail to rise to the challenge.

Fourthly, and lastly, it is time for action. Together, we must send a message from Barcelona to the world that there is no time for pledges of things to come. Eight thousand people died of AIDS today. We must act now. By the end of the decade, more children will be orphaned by AIDS than the entire population of [Unintelligible]. We must act now. [Unintelligible] million lives could be saved by simply applying what we already know. We must act now. Millions [Unintelligible] could benefit from care and equipment currently available. We must act now.

My friends and fellow leaders, I look to you--I look to all of us to leave here, not just a vision and a plan, but a promise to take the actions needed to live into our prayers. Leadership is a responsibility and a privilege. Each of us is accountable [Unintelligible] and to the people who have placed their trust in our hands. It has been said, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” So, to you, I say that lives and nations are in your hands. I know in my heart that those sitting on the stage this evening and [Unintelligible] can build the momentum for action against AIDS. That can change the course of history. You can create a new path, taking people where they have never been before as leaders in our global village. [Unintelligible] send forth the call [Unintelligible] that together, with the grace of God, we can build a generation without AIDS. Thank you, and God bless you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Thank you, Archbishop, for those inspirational words. I think they provide perfect framing for our conversations of tonight and to come. Ladies and gentlemen, I regret that I cannot ask everyone to speak from the audience, but we have selected four people [Unintelligible] agree that they represent the audience of this universe and I would like to call them in order to say something to our leaders and I am sure that this will reflect why we need to consider [Unintelligible] their work in leading us towards a better world without HIV/AIDS. The first one, from Uganda, Noreen Caliba [Misspelled?].

NOREEN CALIBA [Misspelled?]: Your Excellencies, [Unintelligible] and friends. I believe you’ll understand when I say that the invitation to address these leaders sent me on a roller coaster of panic. I asked myself, “What shall I say?” I even asked, “What shall I wear?” But, I asked myself very specifically, “How can I [Unintelligible] a few minutes tell the story of [Unintelligible] of love and [Unintelligible] sharing 16 years of frustration and disappointment. Particularly, unrelenting disease but, more importantly, [Unintelligible] and disappointment at the stigma that [Unintelligible] to accompany this disease for 20 years in our midst. [Unintelligible] the emotions without [Unintelligible] I panicked. But now, sitting here [Unintelligible], the panic has vanished because, like all of you, [Unintelligible] these men and women, you have, I’m sure, made up your minds [Unintelligible] in the last hour that we don’t have to preach to them. I was prepared. I even spent an [Unintelligible] writing a script because I had defined my role [Unintelligible] one of convincing you [Unintelligible] leadership is important. But, I’m sure that you agree with me that leaders here are [Unintelligible] that they already know.

I was prepared--I was prepared [Unintelligible] benefit of [Unintelligible] I would like to revisit and share some highlights [Unintelligible] my struggle against AIDS. But, specifically, the struggle against the pandemic and the stigma related to AIDS. This uninvited visitor who we call AIDS visited this global village. But, when the visitor arrived, [Unintelligible] left with a very [Unintelligible] seeded, very human fears. The fears of the three Ds. The fear of [Unintelligible], the fear of death, the fear of dying.

[Unintelligible] our global village, it also highlighted our very deeply seeded and also very human anxieties about sex, about sexuality. It threw us on a roller coaster of denial, of shame, [Unintelligible]. We must get ourselves off this roller coaster. AIDS [Unintelligible] in June 1986, when my husband, Christopher, was diagnosed with AIDS. Christopher died within a year of his diagnosis. Within that year, we struggled to save his life. We struggled, my four children and I, to understand what was happening to us. But, to be able to explain [Unintelligible] to my children who are so young why they could not share their biscuit at school with their friends. Because their father and mother had been open about their diagnosis. [Unintelligible] this struggle is very, very painful. [Unintelligible] painful after the struggle was the stigma. And, the anger that this stigma generated in me, and how words continue to be the fuel that determines the [Unintelligible] and my determination to make a difference in this pandemic. I started a support group. We named the support group, “TASO.” We focused very specifically on intimacy of life through counseling and support and encouragement to people [Unintelligible] all that restore the feeling of hope, the feeling [Unintelligible] among people who have been diagnosed with AIDS.

Among those that had HIV, but also among their families who were [Unintelligible] feeling of shame. [Unintelligible] couldn’t go to church, [Unintelligible] couldn’t occupy the front row in church for fear of being pointed at.

Today, the story of TASO and the efforts have become the inspiration of many programs, globally. [Unintelligible] legitimized my present and [Unintelligible] but I continue to lead with UNAIDS. They have legitimized my ability to work with Peter Piot and everybody I admire. And, it is my hope and dream that my efforts can inform and can lead with my friends who have been personally affected by this pandemic to ensure that we make a difference.

I wanted to make a comment arising from the pledge that the leaders here have made with regard to their willingness, their commitment, to lead [Unintelligible] and this comment is that leading can be a very lonely role. And, I want to [Unintelligible] and pledge on behalf of [Unintelligible] with and affected by this pandemic that we want to help you and to be with you because it’s a lonely role. [applause]

Unfortunately, in order for people, particularly, people that are leading with HIV today, globally, [Unintelligible] order for them to lead with you, [Unintelligible] care, they need treatment. It’s not possible for them to [Unintelligible] alongside you without [Unintelligible]. I think that voice and I’m so [Unintelligible] the voice has come loud and clear from each and every one of our leaders tonight.

The next challenge that I want to share is that we have a group of leaders here who are already converted. They have to lead. They have to persevere. We have leaders, currently in power, we have leaders who have been in and out of power, but in here, also, we have future leaders. We have leaders and we have, with--through peer pressure, through encouragement, leadership can become meaningful.

[Unintelligible] simple, compassionate, respectful gestures like I’ll just share with you very specifically a recent example of a visit [Unintelligible] high level visit to Uganda [Unintelligible] Secretary O’Neal. This happened about [Unintelligible] ago. Secretary O’Neal [Unintelligible] Uganda and, of course, had very high level discussions about all sorts of things. I was personally touched and impressed that, within his schedule, he had made it a point to visit TASO, the organization I started after my husband was diagnosed. And, that--the impression that was created by the media coverage of Secretary O’Neal and his wife visiting with people with HIV in TASO, listening to the story of agonies in [Unintelligible]. A woman who, after losing her husband to AIDS, and after losing her six year old child to AIDS, lost her 16 year old boy who, after being [teased] in school one night [Unintelligible] and walked and was never seen again. Agonized today, mourned the loss of her husband, the loss of her 16 year old, the loss of her six year old and the loss of her of her 16 year old. The disease took her husband and her baby but a disease called stigma took her 16 year old [Unintelligible] has never been since. [Unintelligible] and we applaud all of the efforts that you are making but we want care.

But then, there is a very important element, again, brought up by--was very excited to hear this--Your Excellence, Bill Clinton. The issue that talks about a vaccine. Many people like me, many people, even parents, their hope [Unintelligible] children is in a vaccine being discovered. A vaccine that would be readily accessible in all countries.

The other very important hope and the voice that I want to raise, finally, is the voice of children affected by AIDS, including orphans. [Unintelligible] hope today in their parents remaining [Unintelligible]. This estimate we can make to offset [Unintelligible] that we lament is to ensure that their parents remain alive. Thank you. [applause]

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, indeed, Noreen, for your very [Unintelligible] and your wonderful leadership. We have from Zambia, [Unintelligible].

UNIDENTIFIED PARTICIPANT: Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to thank you for this opportunity [Unintelligible] for a young person such as myself to address this panel on this very important issue. I would like to believe that upcoming conferences and [Unintelligible] there will be more and more of young people, not only speaking from here, but sitting right next to you.

I, too, have a story to tell about my experience in this [Unintelligible] as well as [Unintelligible] experience of how HIV and AIDS has affected me as an individual as well as has affected the people in my country, that beautiful land, Zambia. I started working in the fields when I was 19 years old. [Unintelligible] working in this field, I never really thought that I would be personally touched or personally experience the impact of AIDS in my life. Only last year, however, three of my closest friends lost [Unintelligible] their [Unintelligible]. I thought it only happened to them. And, in the end of last year, in November, I, too, lost my father.

I’m 24 years old and, right now, me and my friends have taken on a responsibility that was supposed to be my father’s. My brothers and sisters, to educate them and to nurture them, provide comforting, issues that I never really thought I would have to take on. I had my own plans. Now, those plans have changed.

And, that is why, when the previous speaker talked about the issue of keeping our parents alive as being an important element, I also stood up to clap. Because I know, from personal experience that, being a parent at 24 is something that very few people can do. [Unintelligible] this is happening in Africa. It’s possible for me because I have a job. It’s possible for my friends, because they have a job. But, what about those of the other young people who are not as fortunate as we are to have a job?

I started an organization in 1995 with the focus on HIV. But, in 1997, [Unintelligible] like a good Christian should, I noticed that, now discussed [Unintelligible] of meetings would only [Unintelligible]. And, I appreciate bible study. But, also, I realize that the issues that we are talking about were not really practical so if I [Unintelligible] maybe we needed to [Unintelligible] sexuality of--issues concerning education of young people on sexuality and reproductive health.

At that time, the Council was good enough to allow me to go ahead and organize such a function as long as it was no [Unintelligible] resources. So, I came up with a small budget of $50--a young person could only think of that figure. And then, I [Unintelligible] a two-day seminar for 60 young people that focused on sex--dealing--talking about issues concerning sexuality and HIV. Today, this organization is going around the country implementing programs that are focusing on educating and sensitizing young people on the importance of practicing safer sexual practices. [applause]

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the point of the story is that that $50 we actually [Unintelligible] from an organization can [Unintelligible] what I was trying to do has led to become a [Unintelligible] activity. The point of the story is that leadership, supportive environment and leadership, are one big step in motivating individuals, communities, even nations, to implement reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, not only for young people, not only for people living with HIV, but every one of us, because we are all affected by AIDS.

I also would like to share a story of when we started working in partnership with the government. The government of Zambia has been very good at encouraging young people to take leadership roles in implementing HIV/AIDS programs. We implemented a program in 1999 that focused on utilizing mass media to implement messages that carry or promote safer sexual practices. After a year of [Unintelligible], we were pulled out of air and continuously put on hold. Because--simply because one leader, the former leader, decided to express his opinion publicly that he did not [Unintelligible]. Leaders have a right to their own opinions but they also should be held accountable for what they say. [applause] Because, as much as they would like to express their [Unintelligible] position, they [Unintelligible] of other people what is right for them. The point is that leaders should learn the same things that will not [Unintelligible] that is being made by the men and women that you’re seeing here. [applause]

[Unintelligible] in my country, I have leaders that have [Unintelligible] and, since then, we were able to go--actually, two weeks ago, we went back on air with these messages. But, what I would like to say is that the success that is really important is [Unintelligible] right now. [Unintelligible] a man, 16 to 19 year olds, has significantly declined. It cannot continue to be, or cannot be guaranteed if leaders do not hold themselves accountable to their actions. And, to those of us--to those of us who are [Unintelligible], I would like to say that we should find modalities and ways of holding our leaders accountable so that all of the vaccines in the area and [Unintelligible]. Thank you very much.

MODERATOR: Thank you, [Unintelligible]. Next, we would like to invite [Unintelligible] from Cambodia.

UNIDENTIFIED PARTICIPANT: Good evening, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Cambodia is a small, beautiful country with a tragic history. Several years ago, my people faced genocide at the hand of the Kamir Rouge and, today, we face an enemy even more deadly: AIDS. I must admit that I’m [Unintelligible] before you today. Until now, my commitment to HIV/AIDS has been one of one on a person to person basis, going to hospitals to comfort people living with HIV and AIDS and working behind the scenes with ministers and now, government, to ensure that we are doing all we can to fight this disease. But, I have no choice but to speak to you today because our leaders learned early on that we cannot deny the threat AIDS posed to our nation. We understood that denial kills and that, if we didn’t talk about AIDS now, we would be obliged to talk about it later.

This epidemic is an issue of security and survival to Cambodia and it has the potential to become our second genocide. Fortunately, we decided as a nation that we will not allow this [Unintelligible]. Just a few years ago, Cambodia learned of an HIV/AIDS epidemic and [Unintelligible] for those who fight here is not accustomed to [Unintelligible] not just publicly. Our leaders decided to talk about AIDS and the prevention strategies necessary to stop the disease from spreading further. In my speeches, I talk about the need to educate our people about condoms and about the importance of addressing the health [Unintelligible] of sex workers. In our schools, [Unintelligible] about sex and AIDS. [Unintelligible] ministry and our government are required to have a program on HIV/AIDS. Has is worked? [Unintelligible] me that there are indications that HIV/AIDS prevalence is declining and these trends of [Unintelligible] by improvement in condom use and declining rates of [Unintelligible] sexually [Unintelligible] in high-risk groups. [Unintelligible] hope and we have the right to be cautiously optimistic. I stress, cautiously optimistic. We must not become complacent.

I’d like to tell you that, a little while back, I almost gave up. It was very hard for me to [Unintelligible] and see sick people all the time, thinking I was powerless to help them in the [Unintelligible] little boy [Unintelligible] and then held his hand and then he looked at me [Unintelligible], “Just by you, having you look at me and smiling at me, I totally forgot that I have AIDS.” And then, I thought that, I cannot stop. I have to go on.

Whether we are leaders of a great nation or simply [Unintelligible] our own families, we sometimes forget the extreme to which others look to us for strength and for support. Our leadership matters and it does make a difference. So, I call on all of you from all walks of life to join me in the [Unintelligible] of commitment combating the AIDS pandemic facing our world. And, perhaps, together someday we can make the [Unintelligible] forget about AIDS. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you, your Royal Highness. [Unintelligible] person from the floor [Unintelligible] Santoss [Misspelled?] from Brazil.

UNIDENTIFIED PARTICIPANT: Is it on? Yes. Well, I’m not going to read what I have prepared because, well, I’m very touched with everything that was said here and, even more, listening to all the leaders here. And, especially, to have two from Portuguese speaking countries present here and the Mozambique Prime Minister. It’s an honor as a [Unintelligible] to have you here, especially, and President Clinton, if you can only imagine how many of my friends [Unintelligible] here and to be [Unintelligible] a couple of words because I think you know what--you live in the hearts of the American activists.

Well, I’m a person living with AIDS for almost about 20 years. I have been infected right in the beginning of this epidemic and I have been in treatment since 1990, so I have to tell you [Unintelligible] that treatment saves lives and has saved my life. [applause]

Well, I come from a country that--you must be sick and tired of hear of because we--there has been a model since a few years and--but, I [Unintelligible] an interview that I gave a couple of years ago reported by the BBC and one of the [Unintelligible], “How did you make this miracle?” And, I was really very angry at him because it was not no year ago. It was no miracle, it was work and that we have done for years and years.

And, first of all, reform in our health care system and we decided [Unintelligible] universal access to treatment and care in our country exactly when most of the countries here in Europe, western Europe, were deciding to cut money here and [Unintelligible] so that was--that was the result of democratic work in Brazil right up [Unintelligible] 20 years of military government. And, in the 80s--I found out when I was--in ’85, there was no [Unintelligible]. Not even that. And, Brazil--the Brazilian Government wasn’t in a whole not very much willing to do so but the social movement was there. As the social movement [Unintelligible] in the United States, [Unintelligible] the legislation to approve the medication as fast as possible to provide medication for people. In Brazil, we were working to force the government to assume their role and to pay for the medication, pay for treatment, and we did it. I mean, that’s the whole [Unintelligible]. We had individuals in the government willing to do the work with these people and to spread these ideas. I think--and that’s the point.

And, [Unintelligible] important one that I would like to address you is that AIDS treatment is a treatment on a permanent basis. And, it requires governments to put money into that. The Brazilian medication provided to people comes from 100 percent Brazilian taxpayers’ money. So, you cannot pay treatment on a permanent basis with loans, always donations. Government has to put money, and therefore, they have to build the framework [Unintelligible] to be able to do that. So, and this will work together with government to build that. We went hundreds of times to Brazil to make lobby and we’ve put applications and, in ’95, Senators [Unintelligible] for the Brazilian President of the military [Unintelligible]. He decided--he’s from a [Unintelligible] but he held it a lot [Unintelligible] approving one specific education concerning [Unintelligible] provision of care and treatment for people, national project money.

So, that’s the point. So, I through the data you all know. You all know the treatment works. And, we cannot deny that but, one thing that I would like to say, I mean, countries like Brazil, India and Thailand should really be encouraged to explore technology, because Brazil is willing to do so. [Unintelligible] years [Unintelligible] in the trade and the trade field. I mean, it’s a reality. We live in the real world. Hello? I mean--I mean, [Unintelligible] might be willing, you know, our government might be willing but won’t because they fear sanctions and it’s real. We also [Unintelligible].

So, I mean, listening to President Clinton tonight, it was fabulous. I mean, to listen from an [Unintelligible] U.S. President [Unintelligible] this willingness to work on--exactly on this issue. So, I think [Unintelligible] I mean, it is achievable. I think it is [Unintelligible], it is [Unintelligible]. I mean, UNAIDS has [Unintelligible] studies and we know that it’s possible in countries [Unintelligible] to put more money in [Unintelligible] and make treatment accessible for everybody and [Unintelligible] in other regions of the world. [Unintelligible] happened so it’s the duty of [Unintelligible] politicians, activists, physicians and [Unintelligible] it happens. So, thank you very much.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, indeed. As you all--.

UNIDENTIFIED PARTICIPANT: [Unintelligible].

MODERATOR: Would you please wait a little bit, please? We will allow you a little bit later. Would you, please? May I, please? President Clinton [Unintelligible] hosting this meeting of leaders. I think you’ve hit a [cut in audio]. [Unintelligible].

WILLIAM CLINTON: Thank you.

MODERATOR: As host of this event tonight, may we kindly request you to respond on behalf of all the leaders before Peter Piot? So, President Clinton first, of course.

WILLIAM CLINTON: I thought I was going to listen for the rest of the night. But, I only--one other thing occurred to me when I was listening to the people speak from the audience. And, they were quite wonderful. And, I was listening to all of these folks speak and noticed that, while I was quite specific in what I think we should do, asking for the governments to do and the leaders to do, I do think it’s true that a lot of political systems are still traumatized by the sort of onrush of the epidemic. And, I think that those of us who are out of office--one of the things that we can do [Unintelligible] time is [Unintelligible] and thus, power.

And, that you know the responsibility is to--is to--and, this is one of the reasons I asked this group to get together. That is, I think the former officer holders ought to do [Unintelligible] be--to work with the AIDS [Unintelligible] other NGOs and make people available to try to--that are willing to go to other countries to help sort of support leaders who are willing to do the right thing. And, help shock the political system out of denial. Because there is not a single politician anywhere in the world who’s been defeated--not one--for talking honestly and frankly to his or her people about the dimensions of this problem and what needs to be done about it. And so, I think that’s another thing that I learned today. I think maybe we ought to expressly make ourselves [Unintelligible] to be able to try to help galvanize the climate that I believe is there in every country in the world [Unintelligible] to be lied to about their children dying. So, all this business about the inhibitions and the cultures--it hasn’t been true anywhere. It’s not going to be true anywhere if people will just go tell the truth about it. So, I think we should be available for that, as well. Thank you. [applause]

MODERATOR: Thank you [Unintelligible]. It’s late, but it was great. And, the world should know about this unequivocal demonstration of leadership [Unintelligible] AIDS. I was thinking, also, at [Unintelligible] opening ceremony [Unintelligible], I think I can now safely assume that we now have an action group of world leaders and militants, someone said. I think [Unintelligible] and agree that this could mobilize [Unintelligible] we, in office and formerly in office, and also to mobilize a [Unintelligible] as a start.

So, thank you once again. I think, on behalf of [Unintelligible] the International AIDS Trust and UNAIDS and I think we [Unintelligible] do this again in Bangkok [Unintelligible] and, also, making sure that, in the meantime, there will be far more action to report.

Now, in the finish, let me [Unintelligible] the voices of [Unintelligible] Choir. The Voices of Hope Youth Choir is comprised of 25 children and youths from Swaziland. All of these children have been orphaned by AIDS and were found living on the street by the Manzini Youth Centre that now operates this choir. [Unintelligible] providing support to these children, where they were integrated back into their community. The choir gives them a sense [Unintelligible] and self-esteem, totally vital for growing up in this world. Through their music, they raise awareness about what needs to be done.

Ladies and gentlemen, Voices of Hope Youth Choir.

[Voices of Hope Youth Choir performs]. [applause]

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the panel, thank you most sincerely for spending your most valuable time with us. We hope to fight this fight together. Thank you, and good night.