(press release) Vote for CAFTA a Betrayal of People Living with AIDS . . .

[rogue emissary]

Says Global AIDS Alliance

WASHINGTON, July 28 /U.S. Newswire/ --

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51036

By an extremely narrow margin, the US House of Representatives approved the DR-CAFTA trade treaty last night. The treaty contains provisions on intellectual property that will block access to affordable, generic medication and which were opposed by the Global AIDS Alliance, Oxfam America, Health GAP, Doctors without Borders, International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Jewish World Service and others.

Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance, stated: "This vote is a betrayal of people living with AIDS and other health conditions. It is appalling that legislators who have been outspoken on the issue of AIDS, such as Rep. Jim Moran, Rep. Greg Meeks, and Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, voted in favor of this treaty. . .

The Administration claimed that this issue had been resolved by a "side letter" protecting access to drugs. But, this letter carries no real legal weight.

A number of legislators who opposed the treaty cited its impact on access to medication. We are profoundly grateful to such legislators as Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Henry Waxman, and others who worked so diligently to bring this aspect of the treaty to the attention of the full Congress.

We hope countries that have not yet ratified this agreement will fully consider its impact on the health of their citizens and reject it outright.