Two annual reports were published yesterday, one by the food and agricultural organisation based in Rome and the other by the UN AIDS organisation, which made depressing reading. The food and agricultural report stated that the percentage of the world population afflicted by chronic hunger or infected with the HIV-AIDS virus has risen to record proportions and that 842 million people in the world are suffering from hunger. The UN AIDS organisation reported that more than 40 million people around the world, including 2.5 million children, are infected with AIDS and that up to 3 million people died last year from AIDS. The Rome-based food and agricultural organisation called for an international alliance against hunger. I hope during our Presidency of the EU we will be to the forefront in leading this alliance against hunger. I hope the Minister of State will adopt a personal role in that regard.