01.07.(Tue.)2003:No.12: http://www.icaap7.jp/

Postponement of the 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and
the Pacific

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 the 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.

LOC， 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
2004， 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