Thank you, moderator.
Your Excellency, Prof. Dr Ferenc Vicko, State Secretary, Ministry of Health, Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Dr Ivanusa, dear participants:
It is a privilege to join you today for the launch of the FCTC 2030 project.
This week, a joint needs assessment and investment case mission will be conducted in Serbia, with the mission team meeting with many of you on a bilateral basis.
Normally, a needs assessment mission is held face-to-face, but this isn’t possible now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we want to thank you participating virtually.
As you know, tobacco use is a common risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers.
And people with these pre-existing conditions appear to be more vulnerable to serious illness and death from COVID-19.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year, with 1.2 million of those deaths occurring among non-smokers who die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
Up to one-half of all long-term smokers will die of tobacco-related diseases, many of them at a premature age. The evidence of this is very clear.
Tobacco is one of the greatest public health threats the world has ever faced – and remains so in this pandemic.
And unless we act now, over 80% of the world’s tobacco-related mortality will occur in low- and middle-income countries over the next 10 years.
But tobacco is not only a health problem; tobacco also impoverishes families and communities, impedes national economic progress, burdens health systems and harms the environment.
Countries with transitional economies – including Serbia – are still seen by the tobacco industry as opportunities to expand their market.
In addition, the tobacco industry increasingly targets women and youth. And in Serbia, where about one-third of adults smoke, the prevalence of tobacco use among men and women is very similar.
Ladies and gentlemen, the consequences are far-ranging but they are entirely preventable.
The tobacco epidemic is driven by humans and an industry seeking to maximize profits by increasing the number of people dependent on their deadly products and addicted to nicotine.
After considering the compelling evidence, WHO Member States in 2003 adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to combat the global tobacco epidemic.
The WHO FCTC is a legally binding treaty for its 182 Parties, including the European Union.
A second treaty, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, came into force not long ago – on 25 September 2018 – and now has 62 Parties.
Implementing the WHO FCTC is key to the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC contributes to the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals, which address health, poverty, education, environment, governance and other development issues.
Serbia – as a Party to both the WHO FCTC and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products – has demonstrated its commitment to tackle the tobacco threat and to improve the lives of its citizens.
Serbia has undertaken significant steps to make tobacco less affordable, according to the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic.
We commend the Ministry of Finance’s leadership and recommend that Serbia continue to monitor tobacco tax rates, increasing or adjusting them on a regular basis, taking into account inflation and income growth.
We also encourage Serbia to continue its efforts towards making tobacco less affordable so that consumption decreases, especially among vulnerable populations.
Serbia has tobacco control laws that can be further strengthened to provide universal protection from the harms of tobacco smoke – and to stop the industry’s marketing tactics and their exploitation of young people.
A whole-of-government approach is needed to protect the Serbian people and economy from the harms of tobacco.
I am pleased to know that through the FCTC 2030 project, the Convention Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme and WHO will be able to support Serbia in making further advances.
We would also like to thank the generous funding from the governments of Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom for their support of the project.
As the world works to recover from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a better moment to support people trying to quit using tobacco – and to position tobacco taxes and price policies as part of the national COVID-19 response.
Tobacco control has an important role to play in the build-back-better processes as we strive to build healthier, more resilient societies and sustainable economies.
I am confident that despite these difficult times, Serbia will manage to make the most of the FCTC 2030 project and bring about lasting change that will improve the health and well-being of its people.
I’ll conclude by offering our sincere congratulations to Serbia for being selected as a FCTC 2030 project country.
To everyone concerned about tobacco use in Serbia, please be assured of the Convention Secretariat’s full support for your country in this endeavour.
Thank you very much, and congratulations again for a successful launch.