Slovenian President supports efforts of Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Ljubljana, 26.5.2008  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, today met the Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Dr Michel Kazatchkine, who presented the Fund's activities to the Slovenian President. The GFATM, founded at the United Nations in 2001, is today the largest international organisation involved in combating the three most fatal diseases of our time. To date, 52 donor countries have contributed funds in the amount of USD 11 billion, which have been used by the Fund to finance a raft of programmes in 136 countries.

Dr Kazatchkine thanked President Türk for Slovenia's contribution in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and asked for further assistance, particularly in terms of boosting the role of the new EU Member States in the Fund's operations. He took the opportunity to congratulate Slovenia on successfully keeping concern for global health at the top of the agenda of the European institutions.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia supported the Fund's activities, describing its work as one of the most important forms of aid not only on account of its services to health protection but also because of its development dimension. Combating dangerous contagious diseases is a significant component in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, he emphasised. According to Dr Türk, Slovenia will continue to support the Fund's activities and, to the extent of its abilities, cooperate in its further development even after the end of the Slovenian EU Presidency.