H.E. Ambassador Suleyman Dedefo, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Nigeria,

Dear Professor Femi Soyinka, the President of Society for AIDS in Africa,

Distinguished members of Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) Council

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and on my own behalf, I would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Society for AIDS in Africa Council for selecting Ethiopia to host the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in 2011. Ethiopia accepts the offer to host the next ICASA in 2011 with great pleasure and commits itself to make the conference one of the most successful international conferences in Africa.

As Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa is heavily hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, holding ICASA will provide a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in Africa and around the globe in preventing new HIV infections through combination prevention interventions and in improving quality of life for the infected and affected people through the provision of treatment, care and support services in the African context.

The next ICASA in 2011 will give an opportunity to share lessons gained in the demonstrated move towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 in the continent. More importantly, it will enable to share experiences gained in making evidence-based response against HIV/AIDS and STIs in Africa, i.e. knowing the epidemic, its driving factors and responding accordingly in the context of Africa.

In line with this, Ethiopia is making tremendous move towards universal access by 2010 to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in particular, and universal accesses to primary and basic healthcare services in general to enable the attainment of health MDG and contribute to accelerate development of the nation. We all know that creating universal access is an ambitious plan but very necessary to attain the Millennium Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will be possible through strong leadership and commitment of government, unreserved support of development partners, and active involvement of beneficiary communities, civil societies, and the private sector.

On the other hand, ICASA enhances exploring our continent, its culture and history, strengthening people-to-people relations which will contribute something to the integration of the continent in the long run. In this regard, hosting the next ICASA in Ethiopia will create an opportunity to visit Ethiopia’s attractions, diverse cultures of its peoples, rich history dating back to antiquities, the recent developments of the nation and warm hospitality of its people.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express our appreciation and heartfelt thanks for the warm hospitality and receptions by the organizers and the people of Nigeria, particularly Professor Femi Soyinka and his team for excellent organization and friendly reception; as well as Dr. Benjamin Ali, for the facilitation of this meeting.

Finally, on behalf of the government of Ethiopia, I would like to reassure you that ICASA 2011 will have full support of the government and people of Ethiopia to make it one of the most successful international conferences in Africa. I would like to kindly request strong support and leadership of the Society for AIDS in Africa in organizing the conference. The government of Ethiopia would also like to work with international communities in realizing the conference objectives.

We believe together we can make it happen. Once again, thank you so much for selecting Ethiopia to host the next ICASA in 2011.

I thank you all.