Annan urges Commonwealth to give special attention to fighting HIV/AIDS

Given that HIV/AIDS is claiming many more lives in Africa than conflicts are, the Commonwealth should give special emphasis to fighting the pandemic at its current summit, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today.

In a message to a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, Mr. Annan praised the organization - a 54-member group comprised of the United Kingdom, its former possessions and other States - for its efforts to defeat extreme poverty, hunger, death, disease and illiteracy.

But the scourge of HIV/AIDS "warrants special emphasis," the Secretary-General said, especially so soon after World AIDS Day, which was observed on Monday.

"It is spreading at an alarming rate. The disease is a terrible threat, not just to human life, but to good governance and sustainable development," he said.

Mr. Annan noted the UN works in partnership with the Commonwealth in peace-building efforts around the world, including Guyana, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and many Pacific island States.

The Secretary-General added that he was aware this Commonwealth meeting would discuss the situation in Zimbabwe, and the need for reconciliation between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

"It is vital for dialogue to resume without delay in Zimbabwe, and for tangible progress to be made," he said.