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<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=bala@haiap.org href="mailto:bala@haiap.org">Bala</A>
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href="mailto:admin@3dthree.org">admin@3dthree.org</A><BR><BR>
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<P class=MsoNormal><I><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">Geneva</SPAN></FONT></I><I><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="FONT-STYLE: italic">, 5 February 2007</SPAN></I><SPAN
lang=EN-GB> -- Malaysia ’s Attorney-General Tan Sri ABDUL GANI has publicly
stated his country’s stand "that generic drugs should not be restricted in any
manner," as generics are cheaper than patented medicines. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">He made this statement before the UN Committee on the
Rights of the Child (CRC), whose session concluded in Geneva last week.
He was speaking in response to pointed questions from the Committee’s
Chair, Jacob E. Doek, who asked Malaysian governmental representatives how they
can ensure that trade agreements do not affect provision of generic medicines,
particularly for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ABDUL GANI specified that bilateral "Free Trade
Agreements (FTAs) are TRIPS-plus" and that Malaysia has not yet agreed to any
bilateral trade agreement with the U.S. Implying that a U.S.-Malaysia FTA
could result in more expensive drugs, Attorney-General ABDUL GANI said that
Malaysia is not going to negotiate on this issue, and added “we are providing
the drugs for free.” </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This discussion took place during the CRC's periodic
review of the status of children’s rights in Malaysia .<A title=""
href="http://f546.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.rand=68o3ojeo6b04n#_ftn1"
rel=nofollow name=_ftnref1><SPAN class=MsoFootnoteReference><SUP><SPAN
class=MsoFootnoteReference><SUP><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">[1]</SPAN></FONT></SUP></SPAN></SUP></SPAN></A>
The CRC had before it a note from non-governmental sources that described the
adverse impacts on children’s rights of the FTA Malaysia is currently
negotiating with the U.S.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For more information about the CRC and its role in
ensuring trade rules do not undermine human rights, see the attached Information
Note or contact 3D at <A href="mailto:info@3dthree.org" target=_blank
rel=nofollow>info@3dthree.org</A> </SPAN></FONT></P>
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