Former US president Bill Clinton, in Spain for the 14th International AIDS conference, joined British actor Rupert Everett and Archbishop of Nairobi Raphael Ndingi Mwana’a Nveki for the recording of an MTV programme on the illness. The music channel is taping a series of conversations with young people about AIDS, and the three high profile guests were there to discuss issues with the audience.
Clearly the star of the show, Clinton insisted on sitting with young people in the audience and later exchanged hugs with some of those affected by the disease. Sex is an uncomfortable topic for many people, he commented, adding: “Even people who are as old as I am still haven’t got it all figured out.”
Clinton admitted this week that he regrets not having done more about AIDS during his term in office and that he was mistaken in not supporting needle-exchange programmes aimed at preventing the spread of the virus among drug users. He also called upon the US to contribute more money to the global battle against the epidemic.
The former premiere made his remarks during the conference in Barcelona, which he was attending as part of a panel of former heads of state. In the same interview he said his low profile on the subject since leaving office was due to personal and policy reasons, but he’d now decided the time was right to express his opinions.
“I had young friends who died in their 20s,” he explained. “I don’t want kids to die.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
