Senator Joe Biden (D-DE): The Annan team is here today and we appreciate it very much. We discussed at length the incredible stakes for humanity that have to be dealt with this pandemic problem with HIV/AIDS. We had hearings this morning. We will have additional hearings to make not only our colleagues aware, and all are aware, but the United States aware of just what is at stake here. It is not just the humanitarian, which in and of itself is a sufficient reason for the world to mobilize, but as the Secretary-General said today there is a significant security issue here. We not only are losing those beautiful little children, and babies being born with AIDS, and mothers dying, and girls being taken advantage of because of the consequences of a thousand different things, but we are losing the entire infrastructure of societies that we, when I say we, the world has looked to to build up---- teachers, scientists, engineers, political leaders, in countries that are struggling to make their way out of the depths of economic depravity and which are being lost. And as the Secretary-General said, we will end up with a number of failed states. We all know from experience the consequences of failed states. It leads to chaos, and havens for terrorism and genuine security issues. As I raised today in the hearing, which was separate from this meeting, the bigger the country quite frankly the higher the stakes.

So it was very, very important to me as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Helms, and all the members of the Senate, that the presence of the Secretary-General and his wife, here in the capital, in the aftermath of our first hearing to demonstrate that we are working together. The United States is doing more and must do even more. It seems to me this is an area where the United States must lead. Because when we lead, I would argue, that we have a disproportionately positive impact on what the rest of the world is willing to do. And all of humanity is at stake. As Senator Frist said, many times and again today, this is the single greatest catastrophe that humanity has faced in modern history, maybe ever. And I don't know that we are fully aware just of the proportions of this problem. But the Secretary General has been the leading voice in the world to call attention to this matter. And Mrs. Annan has been a significant player in bringing to the attention of the world the impact this has on all people, particularly woman. So I want to thank them both for being here and tell them that their presence here matters. It matters in this body because of the incredible respect that so many Senators on both side of the aisle have for the Secretary-General. And so I thank you Mr. Secretary. I promise you that we will do all we can to not only maintain, but increase our participation in dealing with this problem. And with that, I would like to turn the microphone over to you and Mr. Annan.

SG: Thank you Chairman Biden. First of all Nane and I would want to thank you and the Committee for meeting with us this afternoon. I appreciate the leadership that you are showing on this issue and I couldn't agree with you more that a leadership role by the US, this Senate, the President and the entire leadership will have a very huge impact on our attempts to fight this disease. I would also want to emphasize what the Senator said, that this is not just a health issue, it is an economic, and security issue. It is a disease that has hit Africa the hardest, but lets not make and mistake, it is a global problem. It is growing very fast in other parts of the world and if we do not focus enough energy and effort on this disease, we are going to really have problems of even greater proportions to tackle. I think we can make a difference. I think we can contain the disease. But what is required is sustained political will, and the resources to do it. I would also want to say that it does require complete social mobilization of entire societies. This is not something that we leave to governments alone. We need the private sector, we need NGO's, civil society, we need individuals and we need you, ladies and gentleman of the press, to be engaged in the campaign and get the word out as to how dangerous this is, and what we need to do to defeat it. Thank you.

Senator Biden: Mrs. Annan would you like to say anything?

Mrs. Annan: I am also very grateful for whatever you will be doing because I have been traveling with my husband. I've been to the AIDs hospitals and seen the bare beds with young girls, men and women are dying. I met with the AIDS orphans and I remember 3 little children in this very dark room in Eritrea. The oldest girl was ten. She was confused because her parents had died and she just buried her little sister. So thank you so much for whatever you can do. *****