Unprecedented Three-Day U.N. Event Committed to Growing Problems of AIDS
KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: United Nations Secretary-General Koffi Annan says AIDS is spreading in Asia at what he calls a frightening rate. He made the comments at special U.N. assembly dedicated to battling HIV AIDS. For more on special session we go to New York, and Richard Roth -- Richard.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, all the major players in the battle against AIDS are gathered here at the U.N. General Assembly for an unprecedented three-day event. It is the first time the U.N. General Assembly, all 189 countries, are committing a special session to a health issue. In this case, AIDS. But with 22 million already dead and 36 million infected by the HIV virus, government leaders say, they know they have to do something. They admit they have been late to this issue in this crisis. A U.N. ceremony unveiled an AIDS quilt this morning in New York to kick off the three-day event. Secretary-General Annan, flanked by the general assembly president, were there. This honors all of those who have lost lives, and for those who are unaffected by the disease. Various world leaders are here for this three day event. It's not called a summit. There are 20 African heads of state here. A lot of European countries not represented by their leading political figures. The United States is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is here. All of these leaders got together for a breakfast and talk between some of them, and then they filed into the general assembly session, where they heard Secretary General Koffi Annan issue again a call for funding. He wants a $7 to $10 billion global fund to fight AIDS. So far, he has got less than half a billion; the latest contribution from one of the world's richest men, Bill Gates, and his wife and their AIDS foundation. The United States has given $200 million so far. European countries have also contributed some monies. AIDS activists say it's all not enough. Secretary General Annan focused his remarks toward the end of his speech on the vulnerable groups who are a source of division here at the conference. Should those who are infected by the disease from the high- risk group categories -- gay men, HIV -- those drug users, IV drug users, and also prostitutes -- should those people be covered by the targeted declaration of commitments here? Secretary General Annan addressed those groups and said everybody, in effect, is under one tent.</s>KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: We cannot deal with AIDS by making moral judgments, or refusing to face unpleasant facts, and still less by stigmatizing those who are infected and making out it is all their fault. We can only do it by speaking clearly and plainly about the ways that people become infected, and about what they can do to avoid infections. And let us remember, that every person who is infected, whatever the reason, is a fellow human being, with human rights and human needs. Let no one imagine that we can protect ourselves by building barriers between us and them. For in the ruthless world of AIDS, there is no "us" and "them."</s>ROTH: Nations from the Islamic ranks -- Pakistan, Iran, Egypt -- they are more concerned about the language in this draft, of commitments, regarding those high-risk groups. They don't think there should be any discussion or language about men having sex with men; that shouldn't be included. Right now, the president of Ghana is speaking to this general assembly session. Most of the early speakers are from Africa. They have sent their senior leaders. Of course, that is where the problem is the greatest, sub- Saharan Africa. It is an epidemic in some countries -- Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, U.N. estimates one in five people are infected with the disease. It's a national emergency many countries. A lot of African leaders have been slow in reacting and putting a lot of resources and recognizing the degree to which their countrymen and women are in effected by this problem. Some have now started to shift their positions and recognize the gravity of the situation. This conference is dedicated designed to focus that kind of momentum, to wake those who haven't exactly come around on this issue -- Karuna.</s>SHINSHO: Aside from raising more money, what else is expected to come out from the session?</s>ROTH: I'm sorry, can you repeat that, Karuna?</s>SHINSHO: Yes, aside from raising more money to fight AIDS, what else is expected to come out of this session?</s>ROTH: Well, they would like political momentum. Also in hallways, we're having leaders of drug companies. Those AIDS activists are also meeting. It is designed to bring everyone together. The U.N. is known for a lot of talk, but they believe they can spur momentum and to get people discussing and talking things . The big issue is going to be, who is going to manage all the money that is going to funnel in here, if they indeed get the seven billion. Right now, they only have half a billion dollars. There is various U.N. agencies, some struggling for control. Some say they want the money. The U.N. is not as exactly been known as a smooth bureaucracy when it comes to handling these types of global issues. That is also going to be discussed here. There are world leaders, and leaders of various U.N. agencies are going to hold several roundtable discussion. It is still a starting point, but the U.N. thinks it's, according to its targets, can make a dent in AIDS, through prevention-treatment program increases.</s>SHINSHO: And we hear Asia isn't representing there at A high level. What does it say about the commitment from this region to fighting AIDS?</s>ROTH: That it's stills going to be slow in some countries, that it takes time, as it has, it has been 20 years since AIDS has been around, but for the Security Council, which called it already, that AIDS was international threat to peace and security, that this is what it takes to get attention, conferences like this. This is the fact that Africa has sent leaders, unlike some other countries in some other regions is important. Some of the fastest growing rates are in other regions, though the total numbers are low. The Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and Russia have some of the -- seen the biggest jumps in AIDS. All right, Richard Roth reporting from New York. END TO ORDER VIDEOTAPES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF CNN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE THE SECURE ONLINE ORDER FROM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com