[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 33 (Monday, August 21, 2000)]
[Page 1900]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement Announcing the Appointment of the Presidential Envoy for AIDS 
Cooperation

August 15, 2000

    Today I am pleased to name Sandra L. Thurman Presidential Envoy for 
AIDS Cooperation--the first U.S. Envoy to deal exclusively with a global 
health issue.
    AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Africa and increasingly 
threatens Asia and the former Soviet Union. It is reversing hard-won 
advances in life expectancy and economic growth and imperils the 
stability and security of nations.
    Sandy Thurman has joined the battle against AIDS in every capacity 
from community activist to national policy director to international 
policy advocate.
    Since I appointed her Director of the White House Office of National 
AIDS Policy--a position she will retain--she has traveled repeatedly to 
Africa and met many leaders including former President Mandela of South 
Africa, President Museveni of Uganda, and President Obasanjo of Nigeria. 
She led the U.S. delegation to the International AIDS conference in 
Durban and cochaired its session on prevention.
    Sandy will be an inspiring envoy. She combines the passion of an 
advocate with the skill of a diplomat.
    One of her top priorities as AIDS Policy Director was to expand 
America's commitment to fighting global AIDS. Now Sandy will use 
America's growing efforts as leverage to encourage other countries to 
expand financial commitments, to step up prevention efforts, and to 
increase access to care and treatment worldwide. Sandy has an 
extraordinary record of service on this issue, and I am proud to make 
her America's first envoy in the global fight against AIDS.