The South African Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, has strongly criticised the Catholic Church's campaign against the use of condoms as a means of preventing the spread of AIDS.
Addressing the two-day international conference on the disease in Dublin, Archbishop Tutu said a recent study by the Protestant Christian Aid organisation found as totally untrue claims that promoting condoms caused promiscuity.
Earlier, the Taoiseach said the European Union must not let the AIDS epidemic slip down the agenda because of the current preoccupation with global terrorism. Bertie Ahern said that threats to health and development demand collective action through the EU.
Delegates from 55 countries arrived at Dublin Castle this morning amid tight security to discuss the spread of the virus in Europe and Central Asia.
Research on HIV/AIDS
Research shows the number of reported cases has increased alarmingly in Estonia and Lithuania, as well as in a number of Central Asian countries.
The delegates are debating the matters contained in a report showing the virus has infected about 1.5m people in Russia and the former Soviet states.
In a video address to delegates, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that in the past five years AIDS has grown faster in Eastern Europe and Central Asia than in any other part of the world.
On his way into the conference, Sir Bob Geldof said he wanted to ensure that the AIDS problem is addressed globally. He went on to say that while it is important to address the problem of AIDS in Europe and Central Asia, the epidemic in Africa should not be forgotten.
Drug costs criticised
Meanwhile, one woman with the HIV virus accused pharmaceutical companies of failing to save millions of lives because they continue to charge high prices for drugs which control the virus.
Anastasia Kamlyk was representing the Belarus Positive Movement organisation.
