Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT620
2006-06-12 11:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN'S BAN ON IMPORTED LIVE
how-toVZCZCXRO5601 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0620 1631147 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121147Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7435 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2550 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 4961 RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1635 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1275 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1172 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0358 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5//
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000620
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN'S BAN ON IMPORTED LIVE
POULTRY PRODUCTS HURTS LOCAL BUSINESSES
REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 528 AND PREVIOUS
B) 05 STATE 153802
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000620
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN'S BAN ON IMPORTED LIVE
POULTRY PRODUCTS HURTS LOCAL BUSINESSES
REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 528 AND PREVIOUS
B) 05 STATE 153802
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) IMPOSED AN IMPORT
BAN ON LIVE BIRDS AND EGGS ON JANUARY 22. THE BAN
DAMAGED LOCAL POULTRY BUSINESSES, WHICH PREVIOUSLY
IMPORTED EGGS AND CHICKENS FROM IRAN AND TURKEY. A STATE
VETERINARY SERVICE OFFICIAL TOLD POL/ECON ASST THAT THE
GOTX PLANS TO LIFT THE BAN JULY 1. END SUMMARY.
LIVE POULTRY PRODUCTS BAN TO BE LIFTED
--------------
2. (SBU) DURING A JUNE 6 CONVERSATION WITH POL/ECON
ASST, STATE VETERINARY SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR HUDAYBERDY
MUHAMMEDOV SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT'S DIRECTIVE,
THE MOH PLANS TO LIFT THE GOTX'S JANUARY 22 IMPORT BAN ON
LIVE BIRDS AND EGGS ON JULY 1.
3. (SBU) THE BAN HAS DESTROYED LOCAL POULTRY BUSINESSES,
WHICH HAD BEEN IMPORTING 24-HOUR OLD CHICKENS FOR LOCAL
BROILER MEAT PRODUCTION AND EGGS FOR LOCAL INCUBATORS TO
PRODUCE EGG-LAYERS. OWNER OF ALTYN HILAL BROILER MEAT
PRODUCING FIRM AHMED CHARIYEV, THE ONLY PRIVATE PRODUCER
OF CHICKEN MEAT IN TURKMENISTAN, SAID ON JUNE 6 THAT IN
FEBRUARY HE LAID OFF ALL OF HIS 35-MEMBER STAFF AND
CLOSED HIS BUSINESS. THE FIRM PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED 30
TONS OF MEAT PER MONTH AND SERVED 10% OF THE ASHGABAT
MARKET. (NOTE: IMPORTED U.S. CHICKEN QUARTERS
REPRESENTED 70% OF THE LOCAL MARKET AND FRENCH OR
BRAZILIAN WHOLE CHICKENS REPRESENTED 20% OF THE LOCAL
MARKET. END NOTE.) CHARIYEV SAID THAT ON MAY 15 LOCAL
POULTRY PRODUCERS APPROACHED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WITH
THE REQUEST TO LIFT THE BAN. TWO LOCAL EGG PRODUCING
FIRMS AKSA AND OMAR OSMAN, SLAUGHTERED THEIR BIRDS LAST
FALL BECAUSE OF AI RISK AND PLANNED TO BRING EGGS FROM
IRAN TO RENEW THEIR FLOCKS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE BAN
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO AND CLOSED THEIR BUSINESSES
SOON AFTER THE BAN WAS IMPOSED.
4. (SBU) A LOCAL HEALTH SPECIALIST SAID POPULAR OPINION
IS THAT THE WHO EXPERTS RECOMMENDED THE IMPORT BAN. IN
MUHAMMEDOV'S OPINION THE MOH ACTION WAS EXCESSIVE,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, WHEN THE RISK OF AI
IS REDUCED. MUHAMMEDOV ADDED THAT THE MOH CONTINUED TO
IMPOSE THE BAN TO JUSTIFY THE MOH REQUEST TO THE WORLD
BANK FOR AI PREPAREDNESS ASSISTANCE MONEY (REFTEL A).
HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO A USAID TURKMENISTAN HEALTH PROJECT
SPECIALIST, AS OF JUNE 7 THE WORLD BANK HAS NOT MADE ANY
COMMITMENTS TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) THE GOTX'S KNEE-JERK REACTION TO BAN IMPORTED
POULTRY PRODUCTS IS AN ANTICIPATED RESPONSE. THE GOTX'S
REPEATED FAILURE TO PLAN ADEQUATELY EITHER TO PREVENT OR
COMBAT AN AI OUTBREAK LEAVES OFFICIALS WITH FEW CHOICES
BEYOND IRRATIONAL ATTEMPTS SIMPLY TO WILL AI AWAY. THERE
IS NO WAY TO PREDICT IF THE BAN WILL BE LIFTED ON JULY 1.
A RISE IN MEAT PRODUCT PRICES IN THE BAZAARS WOULD
ENCOURAGE A RATIONAL GOTX RESPONSE TO RE-OPEN ITS BORDERS
TO POULTRY PRODUCTS FROM ABROAD. END COMMENT.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR JAMES HIGGISTON
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: TURKMENISTAN'S BAN ON IMPORTED LIVE
POULTRY PRODUCTS HURTS LOCAL BUSINESSES
REFTEL: A) ASHGABAT 528 AND PREVIOUS
B) 05 STATE 153802
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) IMPOSED AN IMPORT
BAN ON LIVE BIRDS AND EGGS ON JANUARY 22. THE BAN
DAMAGED LOCAL POULTRY BUSINESSES, WHICH PREVIOUSLY
IMPORTED EGGS AND CHICKENS FROM IRAN AND TURKEY. A STATE
VETERINARY SERVICE OFFICIAL TOLD POL/ECON ASST THAT THE
GOTX PLANS TO LIFT THE BAN JULY 1. END SUMMARY.
LIVE POULTRY PRODUCTS BAN TO BE LIFTED
--------------
2. (SBU) DURING A JUNE 6 CONVERSATION WITH POL/ECON
ASST, STATE VETERINARY SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR HUDAYBERDY
MUHAMMEDOV SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT'S DIRECTIVE,
THE MOH PLANS TO LIFT THE GOTX'S JANUARY 22 IMPORT BAN ON
LIVE BIRDS AND EGGS ON JULY 1.
3. (SBU) THE BAN HAS DESTROYED LOCAL POULTRY BUSINESSES,
WHICH HAD BEEN IMPORTING 24-HOUR OLD CHICKENS FOR LOCAL
BROILER MEAT PRODUCTION AND EGGS FOR LOCAL INCUBATORS TO
PRODUCE EGG-LAYERS. OWNER OF ALTYN HILAL BROILER MEAT
PRODUCING FIRM AHMED CHARIYEV, THE ONLY PRIVATE PRODUCER
OF CHICKEN MEAT IN TURKMENISTAN, SAID ON JUNE 6 THAT IN
FEBRUARY HE LAID OFF ALL OF HIS 35-MEMBER STAFF AND
CLOSED HIS BUSINESS. THE FIRM PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED 30
TONS OF MEAT PER MONTH AND SERVED 10% OF THE ASHGABAT
MARKET. (NOTE: IMPORTED U.S. CHICKEN QUARTERS
REPRESENTED 70% OF THE LOCAL MARKET AND FRENCH OR
BRAZILIAN WHOLE CHICKENS REPRESENTED 20% OF THE LOCAL
MARKET. END NOTE.) CHARIYEV SAID THAT ON MAY 15 LOCAL
POULTRY PRODUCERS APPROACHED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WITH
THE REQUEST TO LIFT THE BAN. TWO LOCAL EGG PRODUCING
FIRMS AKSA AND OMAR OSMAN, SLAUGHTERED THEIR BIRDS LAST
FALL BECAUSE OF AI RISK AND PLANNED TO BRING EGGS FROM
IRAN TO RENEW THEIR FLOCKS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE BAN
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO AND CLOSED THEIR BUSINESSES
SOON AFTER THE BAN WAS IMPOSED.
4. (SBU) A LOCAL HEALTH SPECIALIST SAID POPULAR OPINION
IS THAT THE WHO EXPERTS RECOMMENDED THE IMPORT BAN. IN
MUHAMMEDOV'S OPINION THE MOH ACTION WAS EXCESSIVE,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, WHEN THE RISK OF AI
IS REDUCED. MUHAMMEDOV ADDED THAT THE MOH CONTINUED TO
IMPOSE THE BAN TO JUSTIFY THE MOH REQUEST TO THE WORLD
BANK FOR AI PREPAREDNESS ASSISTANCE MONEY (REFTEL A).
HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO A USAID TURKMENISTAN HEALTH PROJECT
SPECIALIST, AS OF JUNE 7 THE WORLD BANK HAS NOT MADE ANY
COMMITMENTS TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) THE GOTX'S KNEE-JERK REACTION TO BAN IMPORTED
POULTRY PRODUCTS IS AN ANTICIPATED RESPONSE. THE GOTX'S
REPEATED FAILURE TO PLAN ADEQUATELY EITHER TO PREVENT OR
COMBAT AN AI OUTBREAK LEAVES OFFICIALS WITH FEW CHOICES
BEYOND IRRATIONAL ATTEMPTS SIMPLY TO WILL AI AWAY. THERE
IS NO WAY TO PREDICT IF THE BAN WILL BE LIFTED ON JULY 1.
A RISE IN MEAT PRODUCT PRICES IN THE BAZAARS WOULD
ENCOURAGE A RATIONAL GOTX RESPONSE TO RE-OPEN ITS BORDERS
TO POULTRY PRODUCTS FROM ABROAD. END COMMENT.
BRUSH