Report from the Durban WORLD AIDS CONFERENCE
Durban, South Africa
Sunday July 9
reported by Jules Levin

Report 5

UNAIDS' Peter Piot Says Break the Silence as Mbeki Remains Silent

The plug on the closed circuit to the press room was pulled. We lost the connection. I just heard that as Mbeki was speaking 20% of the people in the stadium walked out and it's speculated they pulled the cord on him. Opening ceremony did not end. It just felt that way after mbeki's unbelievable comments. Peter Piot, of UNAIDS, said things are hopefulÖ..we need billions to fight AIDS ..we need 3 billion dollars for Africa alone for basic care. Where will this money come from. He asked for Western world to cancel debts from developing countries. He said the pharmaceutical companies are now willing to lower drug prices dramatically. He calls on the world to use its imagination to help.

Piot's words are certainly encouraging as he said let's break the silence in the face of a solid wall of silence from Mbeki. Piot's comments were brief. The entertainment continues. But a cloud hangs over the event because of Mbeki's comments. The conference will be discussing this throughout. As I mentioned in a previous email, I met an HIV-infected person from Senegal who said his government has a special program whereby for $40 per month a person can receive a triple-drug regimen which normally costs $800/month.

People are filing back into the press room from the stadium. One person said that --Mbeki is being more stubborn because there is so much pressure on him. He is the type of person that defends his position more so when pressured. He refuses to let the world tell South Africa what to do. To me I expect more from the President of a country. How disappointing. It's a shame that the people of South Africa who are suffering with HIV have to live under his rule. He ought to be able to change a position -  and there's still time, but I feel he won't in the near future. He could've talked about so much and didn't. He could've made some promises and didn't. What about providing funding for medical infrastructure, money for orphans.