Andrei Nesterenko MFA Spokesman Dept of Information and Press Russia

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRESS
July 19, 2010
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Replies by Russian MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko to Media Questions regarding the appointment of Yuri V. Fedotov, to the post of Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime

Q: What explains the choice candidate, Yury Fedotov, Russia's appointment as Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime? Answer: When the question arose of replacing Ispoldirektora UNODC A. Costa (Italy), whose contract expires next month, the candidate of the current Russian Ambassador to Britain, Yuri V. Fedotov was proposed by us to UN Secretary General on a number of reasons. This is an experienced diplomat and an effective manager, who is deeply and fully owned by the United Nations issues. Prior to his appointment to London, he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, directly oversee the UN and UN organizations. Therefore, advancing Yury Fedotov on this post, we do not doubt that he will make a significant contribution to advancing the goals and challenges facing the UN in this direction.
Recall that Yury Fedotov was appointed to this position the UN Secretary General so that he - the choice is not only Russia, but Ban Ki-moon, too, which proves the objectivity of approach to this candidate. Question: What problem should be solved the new leader in office? A: As part of its powers Yury Fedotov headed one of the priority to the interests of the Russian Federation and, of course, the priority of the UN directions. After all, the UN Vienna plays an increasing role as a center for harmonizing international efforts in combating new challenges and threats of a criminal nature. In its terms of reference will include issues of international cooperation in combating the global threat of illegal drug distribution, including Afghanistan, corruption, cyber crime, laundering of proceeds from criminal activities, trafficking in persons, compliance with 16 international anti-terrorism treaties, etc. The role of the UN - the most to promote cooperation among States in these areas. Such activities include the provision of assistance (not only material) to those countries that need it, and find donors willing to provide such assistance, bilaterally or through the UN. Q: It is known that a group of representatives of the international network of harm reduction and organizations working on HIV / AIDS, addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with a letter in which he opposed the appointment of the representative of Russia to the presidency, citing the poor performance of the country in the fight AIDS. Do you shown concern justified? A: We believe this approach is totally unreasonable. It is no secret that there are influential and active forces interested in how to present the situation of HIV / AIDS in Russia as almost no catastrophic. But let's look at the facts. Yes, HIV / AIDS epidemic in our country as well as in most countries have not yet obtained reversed. However, there is every reason to hope that this will sooner or later we will achieve. One of the key elements of public policy in this area - the political will and awareness of the extent of the threat. As approved by the President of the Russian Federation in May 2009 National Security Strategy of 2020 the spread of HIV infection is recognized as one of the major threats to national security in health and health of the nation. The next most important factor - financing efforts. The turning point in this direction occurred in 2006, when the fight against HIV / AIDS has been allocated to twenty times more money than was allocated in previous years. And this trend continues unabated, and continues to grow. Many positive results are evident. To mention only one of them: last year, all HIV-infected people in need of treatment from the federal budget - and that 70,000 people - is receiving treatment. As you mentioned demarche, it seems, was dictated by the long-known desire of the international narkoliberalnogo lobby force in the same idea of the so-called substitution treatment or harm reduction offering under the guise of combating drug abuse and illicit drug use among high-risk groups to spread the "legal" drugs and devices for their use. The position of our country on this issue is well known. We reject this approach and our strong commitment to this line is in some circles irritation.


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