EC PROPOSAL TO WTO ON TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

UNCLAS ROME 001828 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE EB/TPP/IPE FOR WILSON, ACETO STATE PASS USTR FOR RONALD MEYERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD IT KIPR SUBJECT: EC PROPOSAL TO WTO ON TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH REF: STATE 97995 Sensitive but Unclassified, please protect accordingly. Not for Internet publication. ¶1. (SBU) As instructed reftel, we delivered reftel points to Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, Director General for EU Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Massimo Leggeri, Deputy Director General for Economic and Financial Multilateral Cooperation; and Fabrizio Piaggesi, MFA Delegate for Intellectual Property. We also delivered reftel points to Amedeo Teti, Director General for Commercial Agreements in the Ministry of Productive Activities. ¶2. (SBU) Piaggesi told Econoff that the GOI position was that the August 30, 2003, decision on TRIPS and public health "should be preserved," but he would not elaborate on Italy's position on the specific question of including the WTO Chairman's Statement in an amendment to TRIPS. Piaggesi said Leggeri, the MFA lead on this issue who is in Berlin this week, would be the best person to participate in a possible DVC/telecon with Assistant USTR Espinel. Embassy will work both with Leggeri directly beginning Monday, May 30, and with USTR point of contact to schedule such a DVC/call. We will also report additional substantive response as it becomes available. SEMBLER NNNN 2005ROME01828 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED