ANKARA EAC MEETING 01/06/2006

UNCLAS ANKARA 000102 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/EUR, EUR/EX, EUR/SE, M/MED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AMGT CASC AMED TU SUBJECT: ANKARA EAC MEETING 01/06/2006 ¶1. (U) Charge chaired the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on 01/06/06 to discuss recent developments with Avian Influenza (AI) in Turkey before the upcoming Turkish holiday. In attendance were representatives from the following sections/agencies: RSO, MGT, IMO, RMO, CON, DAO, POL, MSG, FCS, ECON, DEA, FBI, INC, FAS, RAO, CLO, TSR, ODC, TLO, AFOSI, and Detachment 1. ¶2. (U) RMO provided an update on the AI cases in eastern Turkey, noting a third confirmed death and the fact that the presence of H5N1 had also been confirmed. FAS summarized developments within the poultry industry, and noted that eight provinces within Turkey had been placed under animal quarantine. The Government of Turkey's efforts to manage AI, as well as the assistance provided by International Governmental Organizations, were also discussed. A detailed update on these specific developments will be reported septel. ¶3. (U) While the Government of Turkey and Mission Turkey are scheduled to be closed from 07-15 January during the Turkish Bayram holiday, an AI working group has been formed from a subset of the EAC. This working group will convene intermittently during the coming week and provide regular AI updates to the Department. MCELDOWNEY