Strengthening Relationships

8 March 2010 - posted by Tim Siegenbeek van Heukelom

Executive Director of the Global Fund, Dr Michel Kazatchkine, visited Australia and New Zealand on 22-24 February to discuss the upcoming replenishment round of the Global Fund later this year. On Monday morning the 22nd Dr Kazatchkine met with Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance. After that Dr Kazatchkine was interviewed for two ABC radio programs, and he addressed meetings of the Parliamentary Liaison Group for HIV/AIDS, Blood Borne Viruses and STIs, and the Parliamentary Group on Population and Development. Later that day meetings took place with the Hon Julie Bishop, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Baxter, Acting Director General of AusAID, and various AusAID officials to discuss the issues in Papua New Guinea. After an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Kazatchkine attended a high-level meeting with the executive officers of development NGOs.

On Tuesday the 23rd, after an early radio interview, Dr Kazatchkine met with Stephen Smith - Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, after which he made its way to Sydney where the Governor-General hosted a luncheon in Admiralty House.

At the end of the day the Global Fund delegation departed for Wellington where on Wednesday meetings had place at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. After a working lunch with NZAID staff the Global Fund Director attended a meeting at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs where he met with Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Ms Dominica Abo, Temo Sasau, and the Hon Misa Telefoni.

The visit of the Global Fund's Executive Director has strengthened its relationship with Australia and New Zealand, and hopefully paved the way for commitments of both countries in the upcoming replenishment round of the Fund later this year.