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