KAZAKHSTAN: AVIAN FLU DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS ALMATY 003091 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN JMUDGE, OES/STC AND EUR/RUS NOLL ALSO FOR EB/TPP/ATP AND EB/TPP/BTA USDA FAS FOR ITP FOR MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP WETZEL FAS PLEASE PASS TO APHIS AND FSIS ANKARA FOR FAS ATTACHE HIGGISTON GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE TASHKENT FOR ESTH SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO ECON SOCI ETRD PGOV KZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AVIAN FLU DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: (A) STATE 153802 (B) ALMATY 3085 (NOTAL) ¶1. (U) In accordance with Ref A instructions, A/DCM delivered subject demarche to two senior GOK officials: Chairman of the Veterinary Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture Asylbek Kazhumratov and First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Nurakhmet Bizahnov in Astana August 24. ¶2. (SBU) Both officials appreciated the spirit in which the message was delivered. Kozhumratov told A/DCM that he was "optimistic" because the Ministry has not received a new initial report of suspected AI since 15 August. He estimated that the current quarantine regime could be maintained for two or three months. On the subject of preparedness plans, he promised to send a copy of the GOK's plan to the Embassy. He asked for the Embassy's help in obtaining detailed information on other countries' plans, particularly the Republic of Korea. ¶3. (SBU) Bizhanov, who chairs the GOK's interagency coordinating committee on AI, also received A/DCM cordially. (Note: As a supplement to Ref B, the coordinating committee also includes the Ministries of Environmental Protection and Transportation and Communications, as well as the Customs Committee of the Ministry of Finance. Bizhanov left open the possibility that the autumn hunting ban cited in Ref B may be relaxed to a postponement of the season until November. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) Bizhanov spoke at length about the GOK's efforts to contain the AI epidemic. Details will be addressed Septel. Generally, however, he expressed real concern about another outbreak occurring during the autumn migration season. ¶5. (SBU) Bizhanov was not able at the time of the meeting to name a single point of contact, as requested in Reftel A. However, he indicated that he would consult with the coordinating committee and reply to the Embassy by week's end. Until a POC is named, we are confident that we can deliver any desired messages on AI to any level of the GOK through our existing contacts. ¶6. (U) Dushanbe Minimize considered. ASQUINO NNNN