PICULA SPEAKS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT AIDS

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday that it was necessary to intensify the struggle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world, adding that Croatian took a series of measures to prevent this fatal disease. #L# Speaking at the 58th General Assembly which is focused on HIV/AIDS, Picula said that the measures the world took so far against HIV/AIDS were still insufficient and that much more needed to be done in combating AIDS. Picula said Croatia adopted a national plan on the protection from AIDS and took a series of measures to prevent the disease from spreading and cure the infected. "Even though less than 300 cases of HIV positive people have been registered in Croatia so far, we are entirely aware of the fact that the HIV epidemic is developing the fastest in Eastern Europe and Asia," the minister said. "This is why the Croatian government is focusing on policies and strategies which will raise the public awareness about the HIV/AIDS problem and at the same time it is trying to get the entire civil society involved in the national response to the epidemic," said Picula. The minister stressed the government in Croatia worked together with local non-governmental organisations and international organisations, such as the UN and the World Bank, to prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic. (hina) it