[Intl-tobacco] UAE Rejects Tobacoc Industry Participation in Youth Campaign

[Robert Weissman]

Cigarette company denied role in anti-smoking drive - Gulf News  (Abu Dhabi)
November 11, 2003

Barbara Bibbo

The Ministry of Health has declined repeated requests from British
American Tobacco
(BAT) to support the ministry's plan to help teenagers stop smoking.  While
rejecting BAT's proposals, the ministry announced yesterday a major
drive against
juvenile smokers involving all government bodies.  "We will not carry joint
campaigns with the tobacco industry which does not look at the public
health but
has very different objectives," said Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant
Undersecretary of
the ministry.

"Health officials warn that tobacco industry proposals only aim to get more
exposure and publicity. The tobacco industry endangers public health and cannot
claim to have any real intention of discouraging or preventing tobacco
use."  Ralph
Leinweber from BAT said the group is open to cooperating with the local authorities
in awareness campaign to discourage youngsters from smoking. "We can share
information and knowledge and pursue common initiatives to discourage youngsters
from doing so," he said.

He said BAT has already taken part in a campaign with Abu Dhabi
Municipality when
the local authorities issued a decision to ban shops from selling
tobacco to
minors.  Dr Ali Al Marzouqi, Manager of Disease Control Department at
the ministry,
said cooperation with the tobacco industry is not compatible with the anti-tobacco
drive.  "Even more so after a recent decree of the Gulf Council's
Ministries of
Health, which has banned the activities of the Middle East Tobacco Association
(META) in the region," he added.