A declaration of international co-operation, seen as a major breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS, was adopted in Dublin this afternoon.
A note of optimism pervaded Dublin Castle today as 53 countries in Europe and central Asia committed to a series of measures aimed at treating and preventing the disease.
The Dublin Declaration sets specific targets on HIV/AIDS, and dates for achieving them.
It was adopted at a major two-day conference organised by the Government as part of Ireland's European presidency.
A commitment by governments to promote the declaration is seen as one of its key elements and was described by the European director of UNICEF as "remarkable".
Mr Philip O'Brien told ireland.com: "Many countries are in denial about the problem .... committing to speaking about it in public must be seen a significant breakthrough."
"This is the first time a serious high-level meeting on this issue has taken place. Just like discrimination on grounds of religion or race is seen as wrong, now leaders will, for the first time, say discrimination against sufferers is wrong," Mr O'Brien said.
He also praised the Irish Presidency for putting the issue high on its agenda and its commitment to promote the goals of the Dublin declaration at a variety of international forums.
The Minster for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, closed the conference saying Ireland would encourage future European presidencies to give priority to the issue.
"This is just the first step in a task which will require great political leadership and determination in the coming years ... It will be necessary to follow up the Dublin Declaration with some concrete action," he told delegates.
The draft declaration expresses "profound concern that in the European and Central Asian region at least 2.1 million of our people are now living with HIV/AIDS".
It notes the disease in Eastern Europe is "reaching critical levels" and "has significant potential" to rapidly spread in South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It also expresses concern at "the resurgence of HIV/AIDS prevalence in Western Europe".
The declaration acknowledges that sufferers have a role in forming "ethical and effective national responses to the epidemic". It also recommends continuing investment in medical research and development of vaccines and palliative drugs.
The declaration recognises that drug-users and their sexual partners, homosexuals and ethnic minorities are particularly high risk groups.
The elimination of HIV infection among infants in Europe and Central Asia by 2010; and increased treatment and "harm-reduction" services such as free syringe and prophylactic programmes are recommended as part of a preventative strategy which includes education of at least 90 per cent of young men and women aged 15 to 24.
Educating younger people is seen as particularly important with spiralling rates of infection among young men in Eastern Europe - some younger than 12 years old.
Ms Ruth Johnston of Dóchas, the umbrella group for 33 development agencies in Ireland welcomed the declaration, praising the "timely reminder" that the disease primarily threatens young people.