COLOMBIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN AVIAN FLU SENIOR

UNCLAS BOGOTA 009413 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO EAGR ECON PREL SOCI KSCA CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN AVIAN FLU SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING REF: A. STATE 180478 ¶B. STATE 175585 ¶1. (U) PolOff met with representatives from MFA, the Ministry of Public Health and animal health experts from the Ministry of Agriculture on September 27 to discuss Colombian participation in the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI) and the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). The GOC will send a high-ranking, Washington-based official to the SOM. Post expects to receive further information on October 5. ¶2. (U) MFA and Public Health representatives said the GOC shares U.S. concerns about the potential avian flu pandemic and is committed to immediate notification of any outbreaks. The MFA/Public Health representatives were concerned, however, that IPAPI would duplicate and/or draw attention away from international efforts to combat avian flu already undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO). PolOff explained that IPAPI will work with WHO and other existing international organizations. GOC representatives still appear skeptical, saying they did not want any new international efforts against avian flu to undermine existing mechanisms. WOOD