Official announcement: Postponement of the 7th ICAAP

[Guest guest]

Official announcement: Postponement of the 7th International Congress

on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. No. 12

On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee of the 7th International

Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (7th ICAAP) I should like to

express my sincere gratitude for your continued attention and support

to the Congress. I am afraid that we have to make a regrettable

announcement concerning the 7th ICAAP in this letter. It was decided

that the 7th ICAAP which has been slated for November this year would

be postponed until the year 2005.

LOC submitted a proposal to put off the Congress for deliberation to

the sponsors of the 7th ICAAP; AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific

(ASAP) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and

also to the Seven Sisters co-sponsoring organizations of the

Congress. On June 27

we have obtained the final approval from ASAP the custodian body of

ICAAP. Our proposal for postponement was met by some strong critical

comments stating that it would be a grave loss in our effort to

resolve the issue of HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific and LOC

received a lot of calls for organizing the Congress as scheduled.

LOC held a clear and deep understanding of such issues involved with

the postponement nevertheless it had no choice but to make the

proposal. We are very much obliged that our proposal was finally

accepted despite the complications it involves.

This inevitable decision to postpone the 7th ICAAP was made due to

the high possibility of reemergence of SARS as foreseen by relevant

specialists which could be rampant on top of the influenza epidemic

that prevailed every winter in Japan. The fact made us very much

concerned about a potential turmoil in the Congress and the

surrounding community.

In addition an exceptional case of significant economic damage caused

by SARS in Japan occurred unfortunately in the neighboring areas of

he hosting city Kobe. Citizens of Kobe City who were earnestly making

preparations to welcome the 7th ICAAP came to be very much anxious

about an infectious disease yet to be highly medically identified and

the potential harm it could do to the community due to the incident.

Their reaction is understandable in the context that people in this

area have not completely recovered from the economic damage caused by

the great earthquake hit the area in 1995 which claimed 5000 human

lives. We are in a critical phase with regard to the prevention and

treatment of HIV/AIDS in Asian and Pacific Regions and it is evident

that the postponement of ICAAP at this stage could cause a

significant loss in our efforts.

LOCC together with the sponsors and co-sponsors of the 7th ICAAP

recognizes the fact very clearly. The decision was not an easy one

and LOC has thoroughly examined every possible countermeasure against

SARS referring to WHO guideline and other pertinent information in

order to make the good use of our preparatory works and hold the

Congress as scheduled. We however also have responsibilities to adopt

the most prudent course to relieve the citizens of the hosting city

who are supporting the Congress and convince them to organize the

Congress successfully.

LOC came to the reluctant conclusion that we could not fulfill such

responsibility in the given time before the scheduled Congress dates

with such regrettably limited political power and capacity. LOC

deeply regrets that this unfortunate postponement of the 7th ICAAP

must be announced to those who have been concerned with and

supporting the Congress but we cordially ask for your kind

understanding in the matter. LOC is determined to strive to

contribute to the future development of HIV/AIDS community in Asia

and the Pacific including the success of the Bangkok Congress in

2004C and committed to make renewed endeavors toward the success of

the 7th ICAAP in 2005.

We very much appreciate your continued attention and support to the

Congress. Yours sincerely

Tadamitsu KISHIMOTO

Chair the 7th ICAAP Local Organizing Committee

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