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AIDS/HIV
Working meeting on AIDS/HIV research – Speech by Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic (excerpts)
Paris, December 1, 2003
(...) Our efforts [in respect of AIDS/HIV research] include support for the French research, of course, an endeavour to obtain effective European synergy and, finally, a contribution to a world strategy without which we will get nowhere. And this world strategy is, inter alia and to a large extent, being implemented through the work of the Global Fund [to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria]. You know that we are hoping, as we said at the last G8, for funding of $3 billion, which is needed if we really want to achieve the goals set for the World Health Organization. $1 billion of this was originally to come, or had initially been envisaged as coming, from the United States, $1 billion from the European Union and $1 billion from the other sources, which is an achievable goal. For France, that meant a contribution of over EUR 100 million (...). We have decided to raise our contribution to EUR 150 million which will make us one of the top contributors, and we shall contribute this sum. The funding has been scheduled. We are committed and shall, of course, honour our promise of EUR 150 million. (...)./. Embassy of France in the United States - December 4, 2003
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