CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL Second session
A/FCTC/COP/2/DIV/7 5 July 2007
Opening remarks by Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region Your Excellency, Mr Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Deputy Prime Minister, the Royal Thai Government; Your Excellency, Ambassador Juan Martabit, President of the Bureau of the Conference, Honourable Deputy Director-General of WHO, Dr Asamoa-Baah; distinguished Parties of the Conference, honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is really a privilege for me to be here at this august gathering, and to welcome you all to the WHO South-East Asia Region. Indeed, it is a matter of great satisfaction that this important meeting is being held in this Region. It reflects the trust and confidence of the Parties in the ability and potential of the countries of this Region in tobacco control, and their ability and potential to take forward the crusade against tobacco use. The South-East Asia Region has a very high prevalence of tobacco smoking, especially among young adults. This situation contributes significantly to the already high disease burden in countries of the Region. To convene the Conference session here also highlights the commitment of the Royal Thai Government to the worldwide tobacco-control agenda. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a very fast growing international convention. Within a short span of time, 146 Member States have become Parties to the Convention. All, but one country, in South-East Asia Region have joined the Convention. All countries in this Region have identified tobacco control as their priority in health development. National tobacco-control programmes in this Region are comprehensive in scope, and based mainly on the Framework Convention. I can assure the Conference that all countries in South-East Asia Region are fully committed to implementation of the various provisions in the Convention. Since the first session of the Conference, Parties from the South-East Asia Region have been actively engaged in activities to meet their treaty obligations. In this process, unwavering support has been provided by WHO to ensure that such obligations are met. In the South-East Asia Region, most countries have a national policy and plan of action for tobacco control and several others have comprehensive tobacco control legislation. WHO is continuing to provide back up support in order to ensure sustainable tobacco control in the countries of the Region. Distinguished Parties of the Conference, four countries in the South-East Asia Region have been selected for participation in the Bloomberg Global Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. WHO is making all efforts to avail itself of this opportunity in order to assist countries in their efforts towards this end.
A/FCTC/COP/2/DIV/7
Member States in the South-East Asia Region still need outside help in their tobacco-control activities. I am glad that this session of the Conference will also discuss the subject of financial resources and mechanism of assistance. An intercountry meeting held in Bangladesh last year agreed to the development of a needs assessment template. The template will help to map out the assistance that the countries need in implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. I am pleased to see that it will also be discussed at this meeting. It will be most helpful to measure the extent of support that is needed by developing countries in fulfilling the treaty obligations. Ladies and gentlemen, I am confident that deliberations at this session of the Conference will be fruitful on all agenda items. Before concluding, let me sincerely congratulate and thank the Royal Thai Government for hosting this very important event. And on behalf of the WHO South-East Asia Region, I wish this session of the Conference every success.
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