NIGERIA TO SUPPORT U.S. TRIPS MORATORIUM

UNCLAS ABUJA 000277 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/W, EB/TPP STATE PASS USTR COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC GENEVA PASS USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR NI WTRO SUBJECT: NIGERIA TO SUPPORT U.S. TRIPS MORATORIUM REF: A. ABUJA 29 ¶B. 02 STATE 265619 (SBU) Minister of Commerce Precious Ngelale on February 7 told the DCM Nigeria would oppose any effort that would delay the implementation of a solution to the current impasse over the Doha Declaration on Public Health. He said Nigeria would not support expansion of the moratorium to cover conditions other than HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other deadly infectious diseases afflicting Africans. He concluded, "We agree completely with the U.S. position. I don't think it would be difficult to get many of my colleagues to agree as well." JETER