GOTX PUBLISHES AI ARTICLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000213

SIPDIS

FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
ASTANA FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: GOTX PUBLISHES AI ARTICLE

REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 141
B) ASHGABAT 173 and previous
C) 05 STATE 153802

Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution

Summary
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1. (U) THE GOTX INCREASED EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL
AI PLAN DURING A FEBRUARY 14-16 WHO-SPONSORED WORKSHOP.
THE GOTX ALSO TOOK THE UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF PUBLISHING A
FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE AND AIRING A RADIO NEWS STORY ON AI.
THE ARTICLE FOCUSED ON THE GOTX'S SELF-PROCLAIMED
PROACTIVE MEASURES AND WAS NOT PART OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN. END SUMMARY.

WHO WORKSHOP
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2. (U) ON FEBRUARY 14-16 THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
MEDICAL INDUSTRY (MOHMI) CONDUCTED A WHO-SPONSORED
WORKSHOP ON AVIAN INFLUENZA FOR SPECIALISTS FROM
DIFFERENT MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ENGAGED IN
DEVELOPING AN AI QUARANTINE PROGRAM. THE WORKSHOP WAS
DESIGNED TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR AI
SURVEILLANCE AND PANDEMIC READINESS. ONE HUNDRED AND
FIFTY SPECIALISTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ATTENDED. WHO
REGIONAL ADVISORS BERNARDUS GANTER AND CAROLINE BROWN
CONDUCTED LECTURES ON AI: CHARACTERISTICS, HISTORY OF
EPIDEMIC OUTBREAKS, VACCINES AND ANTIVIRAL DRUGS,
LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE AND
PANDEMIC RESPONSE ACTIONS. THE PRACTICAL PART OF THE
WORKSHOP INCLUDED A CASE-STUDY EXERCISE (BASED ON THE AI
CASE IN TURKEY) TO TRAIN PARTICIPANTS FOR EMERGENCY
ACTION PLANNING IN CASE OF AN OUTBREAK. PARTICIPANTS
RECEIVED WORKSHOP MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
MOHMI TO ORGANIZE TRAINING FOR THEIR PROVINCIAL STAFFS.

WHO RECOMMENDS UPGRADING VIROLOGICAL LABORATORIES
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3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL WHO REPRESENTATIVE, ON
FEBRUARY 15 GANTER INSPECTED THE MOHMI'S SANITARY AND
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SERVICE LABORATORY AND THE STATE
LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION'S STATE VETERINARY SERVICE
LABORATORY. GANTER RECOMMENDED SOME UPGRADES.

"TURKMENISTAN IS READY TO COMBAT AVIAN FLU"
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4. (U) ON FEBRUARY 16 THE GOVERNMENT PRESS REPORTED ON
THE WORKSHOP, HIGHLIGHTING THE THREAT PRESENTED BY AI,
THE ROLE OF WHO AND THE GOTX'S EFFORTS. THE LENGTHY
REPORT PRAISED PRESIDENT NIYAZOV'S HEALTH REFORM, WHICH
"SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES THE RISK OF HAVING AI," AND
QUOTED/MISQUOTED BROWN SAYING, "TURKMENISTAN, DIFFERENT
FROM SOME OTHER COUNTRIES, HAS A FIRST-CLASS SCIENTIFIC
LABORATORY BASE AND HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM
OF REQUIRED MEASURES."

POULTRY BAN CONTINUES
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5. (SBU) TURKMENISTAN CONTINUES IMPORT BANS ON POULTRY
PRODUCTS FROM TURKEY, IRAN, UKRAINE, RUSSIA, AND CHINA.
AS OF FEBRUARY 14, ASHGABAT FOOD MARKETS WERE OFFERING
U.S. CHICKEN QUARTERS AND WHOLE CHICKENS FROM BRAZIL,
FRANCE AND THE LOCAL POULTRY FARM "HILAL." HOWEVER, FOOD
MARKETS IN THE EASTERN REGIONAL TOWN OF TURKMENABAT WERE
NOT SELLING ANY POULTRY MEAT AS OF FEBRUARY 10. LOCAL
VENDORS THERE TOLD VISITING POL/ECON OFFICER THAT SINCE
MID-JANUARY LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAD IMPOSED A COMPLETE BAN
ON POULTRY MEAT. IN CONTRAST, CHICKEN DISHES ARE
AVAILABLE IN TURKMENABAT'S RESTAURANTS. (NOTE: THE
CHICKEN BAN COINCIDES WITH THE MASS DEATHS OF CHICKENS IN

ASHGABAT 00000213 002 OF 002


LEBAP WELAYAT (PROVINCE),REPORTEDLY FROM NEWCASTLE
DISEASE (REF A). END NOTE.)

COMMENT
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6. (SBU) THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE GOTX HAS PUBLISHED
A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT A POTENTIAL NATIONAL HEALTH
HAZARD. ALTHOUGH THE CONTENT OUTRIGHT FALSIFIES WHO
OFFICIALS' WORDS AND FOCUSES ON PRAISING THE GOTX'S SELF-
DESCRIBED ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT AT LEAST IS A STEP TOWARDS
RECOGNITION OF THE POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM.
THE GOTX CONTINUES TO TAKE SMALL AND INADEQUATE
PREPARATIONS TO CONTAIN AI; TRANSPARENT AND ACCURATE
GOVERNMENT REPORTING IS STILL NOT A REALITY, NOR LIKELY
TO BECOME ONE. END SUMMARY.

JACOBSON