Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the country, let me express deep appreciation for the organization and conducting this high forum.

Due to its geographical position, the Kyrgyz Republic stands as one of the main drug trafficking routes of Central Asia. Therefore, a substantial amount of heroin is concentrated in the country. This has brought spread of HIV-infection among injecting drug users. As a result a threat looms over the population.

Kyrgyzstan still remains a country with low AIDS' incidence. However, the situation is changing. In the last 4 months the number of HIV-cases has increased 3.5 fold in the Republic, and 15-fold in southern part of the country. According to the experts' assessment, approximately nine thousand drug addicts may be infected until the end of 2001 in the two largest cities of the country without efficient measures of control over the epidemic.
The leadership of the country is quite concerned with the HIV/AIDS problem. The country has developed a national policy on the HIV/AIDS issue based upon a multisectoral approach. Targeted interventions among the AIDS vulnerable groups of the population are being carried out, and public support for the prevention programs is established.

The project on HIV/AIDS prevention, developed and implemented by UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic jointly with the Government and UNAIDS, ensures on a significant scale the implementation of the National Program on HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

It should be noted, that despite of the economic difficulties, the Government of the country has invested 100 thousand US dollars for the support of the above-mentioned project.

The UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, chaired by the UNDP Resident Representative, coordinates the activities of all UN Agencies, donors, non-governmental and governmental organizations for counteracting the spread of AIDS in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The active work of UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS, - all targeted at the preventive programs in the Kyrgyz Republic, has enabled mobilization of additional resources from countrydonors and other international organizations, for a comprehensive and sustainable solution of AIDS prevention.

On site analysis, as well as assessment by international experts, indicates the existence of satisfactory planning in the country and an adequate national policy. However, most of the problems, primarily, financing, legislation improvement, a reasonable policy towards high risk groups, as well as further development of prevention programs among vulnerable groups, youth and school students, all remain incomplete. In this regard, based upon the existing situation the in depth response analysis and the actual implementation of prevention programs, the National Strategic Program on HIV/AIDS in the Kyrgyz Republic was developed. We anticipate the concentration of efforts in priority areas reflecting both the current situation and limited financial resources.
The following are the vulnerable groups needing the most intervention:

- Youth
- IV drug users
- Commercial sex workers (CSW)

At the same time, lack of sufficient funds in the country for the proper financing of AIDS programs could bring to a halt our continued efforts. And our previous achievements against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, could be lost.

During the implementation of the National Program in 1996-2000 only the first steps for the HIV-prevention among vulnerable groups were implemented. Today, we have provided information and skills to people, but we can insure sustained safe behavior. Much was accomplished within the National Program framework, but there is still much to be done. The developed program for the coming period urges the mobilization efforts of state structures, international and non-governmental organizations in order to implement the priorities. This provides greater efficiency of the realized programs with minimal cost. The further support of AIDS prevention programs in the Kyrgyz Republic helps not only to substantially decrease the HIV-infection spread in the Kyrgyz Republic, but also creates a model of AIDS prevention for other countries.

Today, Central Asia has a unique opportunity to hinder the wide spread AIDS in the region by active preventive programs implementing the accumulated international experience. This will be promoted by the realization of the Declaration of Central Asia states, which was adopted by consensus of the plenipotentiaries of five countries in June 2001 in Almaty, Kazahkstan at the Conference dedicated to the preparation for the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, and approved in seven countries in June 2001. The Declaration reflects the priority issues with regional peculiarities, which were presented in the Report of the UN Secretary-General, and in the Draft Declaration of the UN General Assembly. Acknowledging HIV/AIDS as a global emergency for the countries of Central Asia, which are on the threshold of a large-scale epidemic, the Governments of these countries are committed to escalate the national response to HIV/AIDS in order to prevent HIV epidemic. For this endeavor, a legal, policy and cultural environment will be created. Political and social obligations will be undertaken to provide the following priority areas of HIV/AIDS activities:

. HIV prevention among IV users
. Prevention and care of sexually transmitted diseases
. Promoting young people's health
. Meeting the HIV/AIDS challenge through partnership.

The bitter experience of Africa, the unbearable financial and emotional burden necessary for AIDS patients' treatment, the severe social consequences serve a striking warning for all countries with law rate of HIV spread. This speaks to the necessity of a timely development of preventive programs. The efficient quality intervention will promote localization and decrease growth rate of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In this regard, UNAIDS and co-sponsor organizations, country-donors jointly with the Governments, all should expand the preventive programs in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Thank you very much for your attention.