PLACEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY HIV/AIDS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000906 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR, I/RW, I/REC; SA/INS(FOR JWALLER); SA/PD (FOR LJIRWIN, LSCENSNY) DEPT FOR IIP/G/NEA (SDOMOWITZ); SA/PPD (JRONEY) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OIIP IR ZP CE SUBJECT: PLACEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY HIV/AIDS INITIATIVE REF: STATE 142342 ¶1. Reftel requested posts to use IIP materials to publicize the president's new HIV/AIDS initiative. ¶2. Colombo used two IIP products to splash the rollout across the Sri Lankan press. - News File. During noon and evening newscasts "News File" clips describing the initiative were used by MTV (independent English telecaster) and its Sinhala- and Tamil-medium affiliates, as well as by SWARNAVAHINI (independent Sinhala telecaster). - Washington file. The May 27 Washington File piece, "Bush Signs Initiative to Fight AIDS Abroad," was placed in the DAILY NEWS (government-owned English daily),the ISLAND (independent English daily),and THINAKARAN (government- owned Tamil daily). ¶3. We await receipt of the generic op-eds described in reftel, and will use them as appropriate in the Sri Lankan context. Wills