UKRINFORM, Kyiv, Ukraine, January 21, 2004

On Tuesday, January 20 Vice Premier in charge of humanitarian matters Dmytro Tabachnyk met in Kyiv with John Tedstrom, President of the international organisation TransAtlantic Partners Against AIDS.

The host party informed the visitor about the Ukrainian Government's latest steps to combat HIV/AIDS in Ukraine.According to Mr Tabachnyk, Ukraine is actively cooperating with the Global Fund for preventing HIV/AIDS from spreading, within the framework of the parties' agreement on the Global Fund's programmic grant. As he told Mr Tedstrom, Ukraine has received two tranches of the grant to the tune of over 6.5 million US dollars.

He also told his interlocutor that on January 16, 2004 contracts had been signed with tender winners for shipping anti-viral medicines and preparations for treatment of opportunist diseases, as well as supplies of medical equipment. According to the Vice Premier, in December 2003 work was completed in Ukraine to establish a system of medical centers, specifically meant for treating HIV/AIDS cases, which do not belong to infectious hospitals, as used to be the case.

NGOs are playing an increasingly important role in combating HIV/AIDS, Mr Tabachnyk noted. He listed the Network of HIV- Infected Persons, the Olena Franchuk Anti-AIDS Fund among these.

In turn, Mr Tedstrom articulated his favorable view of the Ukrainian government's effort to combat HIV/AIDS. He stated his opinion about Ukraine as an East European leader in fighting the lethal disease. He also unveiled his organisation's intention to open its permanent office in Ukraine and stated the organisation's readiness for actively cooperating with the Ukrainian Government.

As the parties agreed, the thus joined efforts will be very helpful in overcoming HIV/AIDS. Mr Tabachnyk invited John Tedstrom to participate in deliberations of the Coordinating Mechanism, an organism, that Ukraine has set up as a consultative body on the Global Fund's insistence, which the Government has slated for February 2004. During this meeting the parties will have yet another opportunity to discuss their joint action plan.