FRENCH VIEWS ON WHO/INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

UNCLAS PARIS 002950 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO, OES, EURWE UNVIE FOR IAEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO PREL PTER FR WHO SUBJECT: FRENCH VIEWS ON WHO/INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS REF: STATE 73041 ¶1. Acting Science Counselor contacted the MFA and the Health Ministry on April 25 to convey USG position concerning the revision of International Health regulations (reftel) and explain the U.S. position on outstanding issues. ¶2. Our MFA contact stated that while France had strong views on IHR issues discussed earlier (Annex 2, list of notifiable diseases, February 2005 meeting),the GOF has no fixed national position concerning the articles which remain to be debated. On these issues, France will support the "harmonized" (consensus) EU position. While our MFA contact declined to comment on the EU position concerning pending issues, he further indicated that a meeting of main partners, including the U.S., will take place in Geneva on May 2, prior to the May 12- 13 final meeting, and that he expected that the "harmonized" EU position will likely be clarified, at least somewhat, after this May 2 meeting. ¶3. Poloff also shared reftel points with MFA official, Pierre Olivier Drai in the Strategic Affairs Section, who expressed appreciation for the information and promised to forward it to other relevant personnel in the MOD. ROSENBLATT