UN Secretary-General Congratulates Pakistan, India Cricket Teams for Highlighting AIDS Crisis

Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the India and Pakistan cricket teams for wearing red ribbons at Tuesday's test match in an effort to highlight the disease in both countries. "As role models, you can encourage young people to protect themselves, and urge your leaders to pay more attention to the epidemic. And by wearing the red ribbon, you show that you care deeply about AIDS and about people living with HIV/AIDS, and so help to remove the stigma and discrimination, a major obstacle in the fight against the epidemic," Annan said in a message to the teams. Annan congratulated the players, the cricket boards of the two countries and the International Cricket Council on the decision "to highlight the AIDS crisis during this historic tour" -- India's first series in Pakistan in 14 years. "AIDS is a common enemy that both India and Pakistan have to fight together," Annan added.

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