December 2, 2004

WORLD AIDS DAY

Remarks by Thomas Delare
Deputy Chief of Mission - U.S. Embassy Bucharest

Since Romania last observed World AIDS Day, it is estimated that three million people worldwide have died from the disease. Three million... that's the number of people in the city of Bucharest, along with Timis and Iasi counties combined.

In Romania today, there are more than ten thousand people living with HIV and AIDS. More than six thousand of these are children.

The AIDS epidemic took hold in the United States years before it became an issue in Romania. We know all too well the heartbreak that accompanies this disease.

The tragedy is twofold. There is the sadness and anger of dealing with a serious illness, no matter what the cause. With HIV/AIDS, there is the additional tragedy of misunderstanding and discrimination against those who are living with the infection.

We are privileged to be here today with some very courageous people, women and men who are HIV-positive. I'd like to say to you, it can't be easy to listen to our speeches. It can't be easy to stand up in public and be identified as having this illness. I want to say to you, thank you.

Thank you for coming and for having the courage to stand up and speak out.

Thank you for your trust.

The United States is committed to fighting this epidemic. Our contribution this year is $2.4 billion worldwide. We are working with in-country partners to extend lives and ameliorate the suffering caused by HIV/AIDS everywhere in the world.

We remain committed to working with our partners - the Ministry of Health, the Global Fund, the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS, the World Health Organization, and others - to do everything possible to prevent the spread of AIDS, and to provide respect to those who are HIV-positive.

My promise to you is that we are not here today just to show that we care about all those affected by HIV and AIDS. We are here to do something about it.

Last year, USAID supported a three-month national public information campaign to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. Last year's campaign was the first in Romania to address the discrimination and stigma faced by those dealing with HIV.

You probably all remember the public service announcement: a real nurse who said, "Lucrez in fiecare zi cu copii afectati de HIV/SIDA…" In addition, there were also two radio spots, billboards, city lights, posters, meetings and workshops in Bucharest and 15 other districts. People began calling the hotline to ask how they could help. It was a great success.

I am proud to say that the US Government has also contributed substantially to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria worldwide. We are its largest contributor, and Romania is one of its largest regional beneficiaries.

USAID continues to assist key stakeholders represented in the Country Coordination Committee to oversee the implementation of the Global Fund Program in Romania.

One of the Global Fund's greatest strengths is the way it brings the government and civil society together to tackle the many issues surrounding HIV. The Global Fund, in fact, provides an excellent example for Romanian Government in general.

That is not to say that problems do not exist. Some of the greatest challenges we face today are of our own making. The obstructions of bureaucracy. The rivalry, the lack of communication, and the failures of transparency and accountability. We have done great things together, but there is still much room for improvement.

We must be diligent, for instance, with new legislation. There are some laws that should be passed and some that definitely should not. Take the so-called "one percent law", which allows Romanian citizens to require that one percent of their paid taxes be allocated to NGOs. This is a good law... but not good enough. One percent is a very small figure. And the amount of time and paperwork involved to make the request is burdensome on the citizen who wishes to support civil society. I understand that NGOs and the Ministry of Finance are currently involved in a dialogue to find the best solution for the implementation of this law. I hope that this dialogue will be successful, but more than that, I hope there will be many more occasions when the Romanian government and civil society enter into a dialogue as equal partners. After all, some of the most effective work in any country is done by NGOs. NGOs are uniquely able to assist people in need, including people affected by HIV/AIDS.

An example of legislation that should not be passed is the draft decision currently proposed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Solidarity, and the Family - the "Minimum Criteria and Framework for the organization and functioning of the social assistance institutions". This draft would require that "the designation and firing of the Director of a social assistance institution as well as the list of the Board members are approved by the County Council". Now, I just mentioned the important work done by NGOs. Many NGOs are successful for one simple reason: that local people understand local needs. Involving prefects and councils, as the Ministry of Labor proposes, adds an unnecessary level of complication and presents an obstacle to the efficiency and effectiveness of NGOs. Why should an NGO need approval from the county council when it wants to name its director or form a board? It doesn't make sense.

There are, indeed, some niches government was not meant to fill. There is no time to be divided by institutional agendas. We all have the same goals and we must work together, each with our own individual strengths.

In conclusion, let me share with you a remark made by President Bush on World AIDS Day last year. He said, "Fighting HIV/AIDS is not only a great challenge but also a moral imperative for those who believe in the value and dignity of every human life. This World AIDS Day, the United States remains committed to taking action, showing compassion, and bringing hope to those affected by HIV/AIDS around the world."

Thank you very much.