Chicago Tribune - July 18, 2006
Mark Silva and Alex Rodriguez, Tribune correspondents

They have pledged billions of dollars over the coming decade to battle infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS that claim millions of lives worldwide. And they have pledged to promote public education, particularly in impoverished nations where many children never finish school.

They have vowed to combat terrorism and to foster a worldwide trade in nuclear technology that is secure from terrorists who might threaten their nations.

But, for all the lofty goals of the G-8 summit that concluded Monday, the most pressing could be the achievement of peace in the Middle East.

Leaders of the United States, Russia, France, Germany and other nations who assembled for the summit arrived divided over how best to cope with the spreading violence of a conflict between Israel and the militant Hezbollah.

But they left with an agreement that terrorist factions intent on destroying any hope for peace between Israel and its neighbors are to blame for the violence, that Israel should show more restraint in its retaliatory attacks and that both sides should retreat from the conflict and surrender prisoners they have taken.

"We certainly will do everything we can to resolve this and restore calm to what is otherwise a difficult, immensely dangerous situation, not just for the region but for the whole of the world," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said during a briefing outside Strelna's ornate Konstantinovsky Palace, where the summit was held.

Some accord on Mideast

The immediate Middle East conflict has overshadowed any of the agreements that were months in the making among foreign ministers of the G-8 nations. But Bush and other leaders have left in harmony on several fronts.

To confront high and volatile oil prices, with a growing world demand for energy that is estimated to increase by more than 50 percent by 2030, the G-8 has agreed to seek a "strengthened partnership" in the development of an open global energy market.

This includes improving the "investment climate" in the market, diversifying the fuels consumed and increasing energy efficiency, ensuring physical security of facilities and "addressing" the problem of climate change.

"The decisions we've taken make it possible to improve the global energy security system in the long term," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a news conference. "This includes greater transparency and predictability of energy markets, based on the interests of all participants in the global energy chain."

Though Putin was upbeat about the G-8's energy security talks, the consensus reached did little to allay concerns in Europe about Russia's reluctance to allow Western companies bigger stakes in its vast oil and natural gas markets.

Europe's anxiety about its energy relationship with Russia reached new heights last winter, when Russia shut off gas supplies to Ukraine in what many observers said was punishment for President Viktor Yushchenko's Western-leaning agenda. Because Russian natural gas to Europe is sent through pipelines on Ukrainian territory, the shutoff disrupted gas supplies to several European countries.

Putin sets terms

However, Putin said the West must reciprocate and allow Russian companies access into the West's strategic markets before Russia allows greater investment in its lucrative oil and gas sector.

"For us, energy is the heart of our economy today," Putin said. "Realizing this, we would like our partners to allow us into the center of their economies."

To combat infectious diseases, they have pledged to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, with preventive methods such as microbicides and vaccines against diseases that increase the risk of HIV transmission and helping poor nations recruit and train public health workers and increase public awareness.

With tuberculosis claiming 2 million lives a year, they have pledged to finance a plan to cut TB deaths in half by 2015, as compared with 1990 deaths, saving about 14 million lives over 10 years. And with 1 million people dying of malaria each year, with children in sub-Saharan Africa accounting for more than 80 percent of those deaths, they have pledged to step up malaria control in Africa and meet a target of cutting malaria-related deaths in half by 2010.

Health experts say that in the case of TB, in particular, the challenge is averting the spread of a disease that is entirely curable. In India alone, about 1.3 million new cases are reported each year, and another 1.3 million in China.

"It should be stressed that this is a curable disease," said Wieslaw Jakubowiak, director of Russia's TB control program. "If one single patient is not detected and treated, it can infect about 15 to 20 people per year."

And it is TB, more than AIDS, that is killing people, he said, with people weakened by HIV becoming more susceptible to other diseases. "The major killer among people who are HIV infected is TB," he said.

It will cost about $56 billion over 10 years to achieve the goal of cutting TB in half, however, and just $26 billion has been pledged so far.

Russian officials agreed to spend $40 million to develop a regional laboratory in Russia that will work with the World Health Organization to combat the spread of infectious disease.

----------

mdsilva@tribune.com

ajrodriguez@tribune.com

060718
CT060709

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .