Ireland will prioritise work on HIV and AIDS during its upcoming presidency of the EU, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has said.
Addressing a special meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York today on the global fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Mr Cowen said Ireland would host a high-level international conference during its presidency to discuss the issue.
"We hope this meeting will foster a new sense of continental cooperation to deal with the epidemic in our region," he said.
Mr Cowen also called for a new international forum, under the auspices of UNAIDS, to discuss how to deliver HIV/AIDS life-saving drugs in poor countries.
"I believe we need a new international forum, under the auspices of UNAIDS and its co-sponsors, where donors, developing countries, NGOs and the pharmaceutical industry can share views and practical experience," he said.
It is only through such international cooperation that treatment regimes can be provided in a way which strengthens rather than overwhelms health systems."
The minister said the proportion of Ireland's overseas development assistance (ODA) committed to HIV/AIDS programmes had increased ten-fold to over €40 million in 2002.
Mr Cowen also met with Mr Julian Hunte, foreign minister of St Lucia and current President of the UN General Assembly.
He presented Mr Hunte with a cheque for €50,000 from Development Cooperation Ireland in support of St Lucia's fight against HIV/AIDS. The Caribbean region has the second highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS outside sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr Cowen arrived in New York yesterday and will take part in a round of EU troika meetings, representing Ireland as the incoming Presidency of the Union.
He will attend meetings this week with UN secretary general Mr Kofi Annan and with the President of the Iraqi governing council, amongst others.