ARMENIA JOINS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001730 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KSCA EAGR ECON PREL SOCI AM WHO SUBJECT: ARMENIA JOINS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA REF: A) STATE 175585 B) YEREVAN 1641 C) YEREVAN 1562 ¶1. (U) On September 27, CDA Godfrey met with Armenian Minister of HEALTH Norayr Davidian to discuss the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, invite Armenia to participate in the Senior Officials Meeting and pass reftel A points. Prof. Vladimir Davidyants, the GOAM point of contact for avian flu, also attended the meeting. The Minister told us that the GOAM would like to be included in international efforts to combat avian flu and asked that Armenia be listed as ONE of the countries that supports the joint statement. Given the short notice, he said that it would be difficult for him to attend the Senior Officials Meeting. He indicated that Armenia's Embassy in Washington would likely send a representative to the meeting and agreed to try to provide us with a complete list of the GOAM delegation by September 30. ¶2. (U) Davidyants briefed the CDA on the status of the National Preparedness Plan (the Plan) for responding to a possible avian flu outbreak (reftel C). He said that the Plan is complete and is being circulated among the appropriate Ministries for final review and approval. According to Davidyants, the finalized Plan should be available by October 2. Davidyants reiterated the GOAM's earlier request (reftel C) that an expert from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) review and comment on the Plan. GODFREY