Ahern makes plea for victims

BERTIE AHERN yesterday pleaded for the HIV/AIDS epidemic to be kept high on the international agenda in the face of the current “preoccupation” with global terrorism.

The Taoiseach made his plea while opening a worldwide conference on HIV and Aids, being staged in Dublin Castle under Ireland's European Union presidency.

Mr Ahern stressed that threats to health and development demanded collective action throughout the EU.

Delegates from 55 countries arrived at Dublin Castle amid tight security yesterday to discuss the spread of the virus in Europe and Central Asia.

Mr Ahern also said the disease posed a global threat and sub-Sarahan Africa was bearing the brunt.

He added: "When the history of our time is written, our generation will have to answer for our response to the suffering of the poor in Africa.

"It is one of the greatest scandals of our time that millions are dying needlessly, children are being left defenceless and exposed to the disease and decades of hard-won development are in reverse.

"In our current preoccupation with international security, with global terrorism, conflict-resolution and peace-building, we most not let the HIV/Aids epidemic in sub-Sarahan Africa slip down the agenda.

"We have a duty to protect the rights of millions of children orphaned and made vulnerable by Aids," he said.