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.

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2005ROME01828 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED