AVIAN FLU PARTNERSHIP NOT A PRIORITY FOR

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002692 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KSCA EAGR ECON PREL SOCI ES WHO SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU PARTNERSHIP NOT A PRIORITY FOR SALVADORANS REF: A. STATE 175585 ¶B. SAN SALVADOR 2514 Following up on a September 9 conversation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Environmental Issues and Disasters Miguel Salazar told Econoff on September 28 that avian influenza is not a priority issue for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that within the next week he would provide contact information for officials at the Ministries of Agriculture and of Health to continue dialogue on the issue. Salazar also said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not support Salvadoran participation in the international partnership, given resource constraints and other pressing issues. Econoff re-emphasized the importance of a coordinated, international effort on the issue and encouraged Salazar to reconsider, noting that without support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministries of Agriculture and Health would be handicapped in their efforts to participate in the partnership on behalf of El Salvador. Salazar promised to consult further within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue. Comment: Meanwhile, post will work with existing contacts at the Ministries of Agriculture and Health to seek their support and to pressure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage on this issue. End comment. Barclay