Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have gathered here to address a tragic global emergency situation; an indeed painful affront human life and dignity and a daunting challenge to the entire international community. We are acting on the solemn commitment of our Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit last September to halt, in the first place, and begin to reverse the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. And all of us are acutely aware of the real dimensions of the pandemic in Africa in general and what it currently means for some African societies as well as the disheartening prospects for their future. Facts and figures speak for themselves; there is hardly any need for dramatization.

Mr. President,

The very raison d'etre of the Special Session and its ultimate objective has been, and continues to be, to strengthen the requisite political will towards securing a global commitment for enhanced coordination and intensified national, regional and international efforts to combat the epidemic, which, much to everybody's chagrin, does not recognize any border or political establishment. The early spread of the epidemic almost two decades ago as what might have been considered a health and medical problem now has acquired the dimensions of a major development crisis on a global scale. It is now jeopardizing the advancements achieved in many societies over the past several decades. The fact that the epidemic is not as menacing as in the past in high income countries is quite indicative of the very close inter-relationship between its spread and poverty and low level of development.

Having grappled with the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic over the past two decades, the international community should now be in a position at this Special Session to have a fresh, objective and yet bold look at all aspects of the pandemic. Let us not delude ourselves. The spread of the disease cannot be addressed in vacuum. The moral aspect involved in and around the why and how of it all and the established fact that irresponsible sexual behaviour, of different forms, has been among the key factors in the spread of the disease, cannot, and in fact, should not be brushed aside, under any pretext, even in the name and under the guise of empathy for the hapless infected. And truly, the infected individuals, deserve human empathy and more so, effective, accessible and affordable care and treatment. That is not at issue. The question, however, for all of us is whether the totality of the international community can bring itself to the point of addressing the real causes of the pandemic and coming up with what it takes to combat it, effectively and meaningfully, and certainly with empathy and compassion.

This very point brings me to the crux of the divide, serious as it has been, in the course of the negotiations on the draft declaration of this Session. The issues and concepts under discussion in the present conference involve long-established fundamental ethical principles and values, they simply cannot be subjected to a post-modern "laissez-faire, laisser passer" mentality and approach. In so far as sexual relations are concerned, from our point of view, the imperative of moral choice and behaviour, the centrality of family as the basic unit of society and responsible individual conduct are indispensable to a healthy state of relations in any society. It is from this vantage point that we approach the subject matter of this important international gathering and have addressed various provisions of the final outcome. While remaining faithful to our Islamic values and cultural dispositions, we have, nevertheless, exercised a high degree of flexibility in order to facilitate arriving at a common negotiated platform of action.

Mr. President,

Let me now turn to the national scene. Currently, Iran belongs to the group of countries with low rate of prevalence. However, we in the Health Ministry are of the view that the pattern is rapidly changing into a concentrated epidemic situation in IntraVenous Drug Users (IVDUs). The first HIV case in Iran was reported in 1987. As of June 2001, 2721 known cases -comprising of 2608 male and 113 females living with HIV/AIDS - have been reported. Drug abuse has been the dominant mode of transmission with 65% of the known and reported cases -which is directly related to the very serious drug problem we face as a result of being situated on the illicit drugs transit route. Another 12% has been due to heterosexual transmission. Still another transmission factor in this regard relates to the cases of Iranian nationals traveling abroad or seeking temporary work in other countries with high rate of prevalence or high-risk situations.

Despite the low prevalence situation, the epidemic has been given due attention during the past years in order to stem and combat its spread. To this end, A National Committee to Combat HIV/AIDS, chaired by the Minister of Health, was set up in 1987 which provides policy guidance to the national AIDS programme. The National Strategic Plan, based on multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination, is mainly premised on prevention and contains the following major activities:

1- Providing patients and community with information, educational material and communication;
2- Serological and behavioural surveillance; 3-Voluntary testing and counseling;
4- Blood safety; and
5- HIV care, support and treatment.

While relying on further mobilization of our national capacities to combat this epidemic which appears to be on the rise due to a host of reasons, we believe that international assistance, particularly through relevant agencies, can certainly help us to pursue the next steps, including the following:

1- Strengthening of the National Strategic Plan through more active multistakeholder participation, including NGOs, private sector and community participation;
2- Training programmes, inclusive of outpatient and inpatient care;
3- MIS system; and 4- IEC programme, with emphasis on behavioural change.

Mr. President,

On the way forward, let me just underline a number of overriding considerations:

1- We believe that success of any programme, at national, regional and international levels, does by necessity depend on genuine consideration for specific national situations and circumstances and respect for particular norms and values of concerned societies. In this context, the pivotal role of family and religious and community leaders needs to be underlined. The emphasis on these aspects and elements in the final outcome is well placed, if not optimally satisfactory

2- Urgent, effective international assistance programme commensurate with the tragic dimensions of the pandemic, with particular focus on Africa, can hardly be overemphasized. This should not, however, lead to negligence of the HIV/AIDS transmission through IV Drug Abuse in other countries and regions;

3- Mobilization of the necessary resources of the magnitude known to the international community should be accorded the highest possible priority;

4- The requisite funds for an effective combat against the pandemic, inclusive of the necessary financial resources, should come from new and additional resources and should not negatively affect the existing resources for development - which in any case fall far short of the actual requirements on a global scale;

5-As indicated earlier in my statement, political will and resolve of the entire international community, beyond beautiful words and rosy promises, is all that is needed to make the fight against the pandemic real and believable, and finally;

6- Care and treatment of the already infected is all but imperative and should be pursued with vigour and as a matter of priority. Yet, it is our considered view that prevention, in the broadest sense of the word and most certainly based on the elements of moral choice, responsible sexual behaviour and promotion and protection of family, provides a more effective shield against the further spread of the pandemic.

Mr. President,

I close my statement with a brief word of appreciation to you, to the distinguished Facilitators and to all the negotiators, and wish all of you and the Special Session every success. Let us resolve to halt and reverse the spread of this deadly and dehumanizing pandemic.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.