ISRAEL SEEKING REGIONAL COORDINATION ON AVIAN

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 006160

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES/OHA, OES/PCI, NEA/IPA AND NEA/RA
HHS FOR OGHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR PREL IS CY EG JO KPAL KWBG TU ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT: ISRAEL SEEKING REGIONAL COORDINATION ON AVIAN
INFLUENZA

REF: TEL AVIV 05579 (NOTAL)


1. (SBU) Summary: The GOI is hoping to use an existing
health grouping to pull together a meeting of health
ministers to coordinate regional preparations on avian
influenza. The Turkish Health Minister reportedly has agreed
to host such a gathering. GOI officials hope that there can
be some USG representation if such a meeting takes place.
End summary.


2. (SBU) Executive Director of the Middle East Cancer
Consortium (MECC) Michael Silbermann called on Ambassador
Jones October 20. Established in 1996, MECC is a partnership
between the United States Department of Health and Human
Services and the Health Ministries of Cyprus, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey. Silbermann
reported that the GOI Minister of Health was hoping to use
MECC's existing links with the health ministries of member
countries to quickly convene a meeting of health ministers to
discuss common strategies for dealing with avian influenza.
Silbermann said that likely venues would be Cyprus or Turkey,
and that the Turkish Health Minister had offered to host such
a meeting.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the WHO will be holding a
meeting on avian influenza in Geneva November 7-9, and
suggested that regional ministers might meet on the margins
of that meeting, making it easier for U.S. officials to
attend. Silbermann noted that possibility, but also said
that the GOI wanted to see an initial meeting of regional
health ministers take place sooner. (Note: Jordanian and
Israeli veterinary officials reportedly met October 20 to
discuss avian flu preparations; Israeli and Palestinian
officials may meet for the same purpose in the coming days.
End note).


4. (SBU) Silbermann commented that a meeting of health
ministers would be useful even if not all MECC member
countries attend. He said he hoped that a representative of
the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, such as the ESTH Officer, would
be able to attend if the meeting takes place in Turkey.


5. (SBU) Comment: The GOI MOH is proposing to take advantage
of MECC's existing network to help organize a regional
strategy meeting on avian influenza. This would not be a
"MECC meeting," but rather a meeting on avian influenza of
health ministers from MECC member countries. We will report
on developments as we receive updates from Silbermann and GOI
officials. While it's not yet clear whether this initiative
will result in several countries in the region getting
together around avian influenaz, the proposal appears worthy
of our support. End comment.

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JONES