Mr. President,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored to address you on behalf of the Government of Greece at this United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS.

Yesterday, the Minister for Health and Social Aff airs of Sweden, in his capacity as President of the European Union, delivered a statement, to which my Government fully subscribes. In that statement it was stressed that "we make history by adoptiog the first UN declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS." It was also stated that history-making does not lie in the adoption of the declaration but in its implementation by all participants of the International Community.
AIDS is a problem of the world, without any boundaries. It is a clear challenge to the entire International Community.

Indeed, this global crisis deserves global action!
 

Mr. President,

Greece welcomes the emphasis given to the role of leadership, as an essential response to the epidemic, as well as to the prevention, care, support and treatment, which are mutually reinforcing and constitute the fundamental elements of an effective response against the disease. We are also gratified to see the importance given to the respect for human rights, especially women's rights, which reduces vulnerability; to the priority that must be given to the vulnerable; to the need to address the social and economic impact of AIDS and to the need for new, additional and sustained resources and further research and development.
 

Mr. President,

Greece would also like to stress the importance of certain elements in the fight against HIV/AIDS:

--The need to face human suffering, in the spirit of unconditional care and support, according to the well known Oath of Hippocrates.

--The need to dissociate our personal beliefs and prejudices from the harsh reality of a world pandemic. We need openness, information and the breaking of some taboos, for example, sexual orientation.

--The need to combine an affordable access to care services and especially to medicine, with an appropriate quality control, management and structures, thus avoiding superficial and ineffective approaches.

--The need to give priority in removing political and legislative obstacles, and in giving people living with HIV/AIDS, decent care, with particular emphasis to vulnerable groups, including undocumented migrants.

--The need to ensure access to information and education on interpersonal relations, about HIV.

--The need to strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women in order to avoid behaviors which endanger the health of women and girls.

--The need to reduce the impact of natural disasters and armed conf licts, on the spread of HIV/AIDS.

--The need to reduce poverty, since the poor are the most vulnerable and less equipped to cope with the epidemic.

--The need to fight discrimination, stigmatization and alienation associated with HIV/AIDS, as well as the need to build an international society based on solidarity.
 

Mr. President,

Strong partnerships, involving governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental Organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, medical and scientif ic societies, community and non governmental organizations, the business sector, trade unions, the media, parliamentarians, opinion makers, celebrities, foundations and faith-based organizations are vital for to struggle against AIDS. We would like, in particular, to praise the leading role of UNAIDS in the fight against the epidemic.

Greece would like to welcome the major contribution of civil society actors both to the preparatory process and to the Special Session itself. The civil society participated actively in the identification of major issues and problems regarding AIDS and in the fight against the epidemic. We wish to commend and praise the devotion and solidarity of civil society organizations.

The HIV/AIDS policy in Greece is formulated by the Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control (HCIDC) under the authority of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Citizens of Greece, as well as other people living in the country, turn to the Centre, which deals with Surveillance by collecting epidemiological data; its competence also encompasses prevention, by disseminating information and raising awareness; care by means of therapeutic treatment; training for health professionals; psycho-social and legal support, by solving medico-social, legal and ethical issues related to the disease; and international cooperation with a large network of institutions all over the world.

HIV/AIDS patients in Greece are entitled to diagnosis, medical, social and psychological support, medical observation, clinical tests, anti-retroviral therapy and hospital admittance, free of charge, in the Special Units. A basic monthly allowance is granted for the less fortunate, as well as support by community organizations.
 

Mr. President,

The world-wide effort is now given new impetus.

This world assembly addresses a vert' strong message to all human beings: We care.
 

Thank you Mr. President.