For Journalists 

Moscow, 31 October 2005

On the occasion of President Putin’s visit to the Netherlands

Open letter from AFEW to President Putin:
Leadership crucial to turn around HIV/AIDS epidemic

As stated by the Dutch organisation AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), which is active in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the recent attention of President Putin to the Russian AIDS epidemic is to be welcomed, but more is required to prevent a catastrophe.

Over the last ten years the issue of HIV/AIDS has gradually become a very serious problem. UNAIDS reports that Russia and the neighbouring countries of the former Soviet Union have the fastest growing HIV rates in the world. The estimates of the Russian Federal AIDS Centre suggest that there are between one and two million people living with HIV in Russia, and the numbers are continuing to rise.

As a result, Russia is on the verge of a social, economic and, most importantly, humanitarian catastrophe. This impending catastrophe has not yet been given the attention it deserves. The experiences of other countries show that strong commitment and public support by political leaders can help halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Just recently, President Putin made his first public admission that HIV/AIDS is an extremely serious problem for Russia. Speaking live on Russian television, he said that the current situation with HIV/AIDS in Russia was ‘an acute problem’ and announced that in 2006 there would be a twenty to thirty-fold increase in the funding allocated for the fight against HIV/AIDS. While this is very good news, more needs to be done. Other countries have shown that personal effort and participation by the most influential government leaders is a crucial factor for success. The Russian President is in a position to help raise awareness among the Russian population, motivate people to take responsibility for protecting themselves and address the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS.  

On November 1 and 2 President Putin will be visiting the Netherlands. In an open letter the Dutch organisation AFEW is appealing to the president to pay more attention to the problem of HIV/AIDS and to give it the political priority it needs. Please find the letter attached. This letter was sent to President Putin on 26 October 2005.

In addition, AFEW has sent a letter to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, requesting that the problem of HIV/AIDS in Russia be put on the agenda for a meeting between the Dutch Prime Minister and President Putin.

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