Norway Urges Nordic Countries to Combat AIDS in Russia, Baltics

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, speaking Friday after a meeting of Nordic social democratic parties, "urged" the more prosperous Nordic nations and Germany to help combat a "surge" in AIDS and tuberculosis cases in northwestern Russia and the Baltic states. Stoltenberg said he had sent letters to the leaders of Baltic-region nations asking for help to fight poverty and the disease, and hoped to receive answers by Jan. 15. Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, also at the press conference, pledged "full support" of the initiative (Reuters, 1/12).