EMBASSY VATICAN AIDS CONFERENCE LINKS FAITH-BASED WITH

UNCLAS VATICAN 000108 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI KHIV KIRF ECON EAID KHDP TSPL UN XA VT SUBJECT: EMBASSY VATICAN AIDS CONFERENCE LINKS FAITH-BASED WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND USG ¶1. (U) Embassy Vatican and Caritas Internationalis co-hosted a very successful international conference on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS from October 14 to the ¶16. The conference also aimed at improving access to testing and treatment for children living with HIV and HIV/TB co-infection. In addition to presentations from global experts and leaders in the field, the conference included a two-day training workshop for caregivers and advocates. Among others, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibi, and the Director of the Global AIDS Program for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Deborah Birx, addressed an audience of more than 200 participants including Vatican officials, diplomats, members of the health-care community, care-givers, and members of faith-based organizations. The conference succeeded in encouraging greater partnership among inter-governmental organizations, the USG and faith-based organizations to increase assistance to children. ¶2. (U) All the major media outlets covering the Vatican reported on the conference. Ambassador Diaz conducted on-camera interviews with Rome Reports and Catholic News Service (both producers of television news programs broadcast widely in the U.S. and beyond) in which he emphasized how the U.S., through PEPFAR, is the world's largest donor of resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS, while the Catholic Church, through organizations like Caritas, is the world's largest aid delivery organization. The Ambassador also did radio interviews in English, Italian, and French for Vatican Radio (which broadcasts in more than 40 languages). Articles about the conference appeared in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's official newspaper, and in the wire services ZENIT and FIDES. The event was scheduled to coincide with the meeting in Rome of the African Synod of bishops. Several African Archbishops and bishops attended the conference. Further information about the conference is available at the Embassy Vatican webpage, http://vatican.usembassy.gov/missionroot/even ts/2009/HIVTBC onference/ ¶3. (U) Comment: The conference proved that, despite disagreement between the current Administration and the Catholic Church on abortion, it is possible and important to collaborate on some of the many other areas where the USG and the Vatican share a commitment to assist the most vulnerable. End comment. DIAZ