Distinguished Delegates of Member States,

Friends,

Welcome to Geneva and to the third round of negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). As we make our way through a document whose principal aim is to prevent death and disease, I have been very encouraged by the pace, depth and relevancy of this process.

Over the past few months, new data has also led us to revise our earlier estimates. The news is not good. We now estimate that 4.2 million people died of tobacco in 2000. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey provides us with information from over 50 countries and shows us that tobacco use among children is staggering and is still on the increase.

The percentage of 13 to 15 year old students who currently consume tobacco products range from a high of over 60% in countries such as the Northern Mariana Islands to a low of around 10% in countries such as Sri Lanka. One-fifth or more of students surveyed began smoking cigarettes before they were 10 years old.

Students who buy cigarettes in stores are very rarely refused purchase because of their age. Over three-quarters of students surveyed report having seen advertisements for cigarettes from media outlets such as billboards, newspapers, magazines, or at sporting and other events. These findings are of great concern. The younger people are when they start to smoke, the more likely they are to become addicted and heavy smokers, and the more likely it is that they will die from tobacco-related diseases. The force of this emerging convention is its commitment to protect future generations from tobacco. We simply cannot afford to fail.

It is this reality that is driving countries to strengthen their tobacco control strategies and develop regional and sub-regional positions in advance of the third round of negotiations.

Since the second round, countries in our Eastern Mediterranean Region met in Tehran and deliberated on tobacco liability and compensation issues.

The Commonwealth of Independent States met in Moscow, African Region states met in Algiers, Pacific Island states met in Sydney, and South-East Asian Region states met in Thimphu, Bhutan. Earlier this month, Latin American countries met in Brazil to develop united positions. Also, Mediterranean-basin countries met in Malta to improve cooperation between Ministries of Finance and Ministries of Health in tobacco control efforts.

We have been busy! But we are not alone. Those seeking to thwart our efforts have been busy too. Tobacco companies have been very active in trying to get support for their new "code of marketing" from governments and the United Nations system. WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank have rejected this voluntary code.

We know that voluntary codes have been ineffective, and that several features of the proposed industry code would erode legislative gains already made in a substantial numbers of countries worldwide.

In an effort to protect the negotiating process, the World Health Assembly 2001 unanimously backed a resolution that called on WHO to inform Member States about tobacco industry activities aimed at damaging the FCTC process. Several Member States have since requested our assistance in mapping tobacco company activities that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts in their countries.

We call on you to continue to be alert to such pressures.

Gathering together we have the goal of saving lives and protecting future generations. Let us seize this opportunity to renew our commitment to public health.

I wish you all success in negotiating a strong Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and I thank you for coming to Geneva to attend this historic session.