UN-backed Global Fund commends French plan to boost HIV/AIDS pledge

The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases initiated by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed France's plan to significantly boost its contributions over the next two years.

President Jacques Chirac announced that France would increase its pledge to 300 million euros (about $363 million) for 2007 – double the amount it has given this year – to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a unique public-private partnership created three years ago on Mr. Annan's initiative to attract additional resources in the battle against the three diseases.

Last week, after Australia increased its pledge, the Fund called on donor governments to follow the example set by that country and, this past February, by Canada, to at least double their pledges for 2005 and beyond to help the fund respond to projected resource challenges.

"To meet our current commitments, we will need $US2.3 billion in 2005, $US3.5 billion in 2006 and $US3.6 billion in 2007," the Fund's executive director Richard Feachem said.