DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PROMISES TO DO MORE ON AVIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000322

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

ROME FOR FAO REPRESENTATIVE
ANKARA FOR AG COUNSELOR
GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2016
TAGS: EAGR EAID KFLU PREL PGOV AJ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PROMISES TO DO MORE ON AVIAN
INFLUENZA


Classified By: AMBASSADOR RENO L. HARNISH III; REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a February 24 meeting with the
Ambassador and USAID and UNICEF representatives, Deputy Prime
Minister for Agriculture (and head of the presidential avian
influenza commission) Abbas Abbasov showed a new interest in
serious measures to address the issue. He indicated that the
AI commission had met on February 17 and agreed to a
preliminary action plan. A February 28 commission meeting
would finalize a detailed action plan for the GOAJ. In
addition, DPM Abbasov noted several other GOAJ initiatives,
such as the allocation of USD 550,000 from a reserve fund for
equipment and supplies. Abbasov also agreed to the
Ambassador's suggestion to establish a weekly working group
meeting between donor representatives and commission staff to
coordinate assistance. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On February 24, the Ambassador, along with USAID
Country Coordinator and UNICEF Country Director Hanaa Singer,
called on DPM Abbas Abbasov to discuss the GOAJ's response to
avian influenza. The Ambassador began by noting ongoing
concern over the GOAJ's approach to AI. He stressed the
urgent need for an active, rather than passive, surveillance
process throughout Azerbaijan. In addition, a detailed GOAJ
action plan was needed in order to coordinate better donor
assistance efforts. At the same time, a broad public
information campaign, including materials made available from
USAID and UNICEF, was needed. The Ambassador suggested that
one way to improve GOAJ cooperation with the donor community
was to meet weekly to communicate needs and information.


3. (SBU) A clearly defensive DPM Abbasov stressed that the
GOAJ was "very much concerned" about AI and recapped
mitigation efforts to date. He indicated that over 2,062
birds had been sampled throughout Azerbaijan. The GOAJ had
sent 66 of these samples abroad for testing (54 to the
Weybridge UK laboratory and 12 to a facility in Ukraine; Post
has not determined what this Ukrainian facility is, but is
confident that it is not/not an internationally recognized
reference laboratory). At the same time, the GOAJ was
working with donors such as the World Bank to reallocate USD
5 million into a new AI project in Azerbaijan. In addition,
the GOAJ would provide roughly USD 8 million for the State
Veterinary Service in the 2006 budget. This sum would be
supplemented with USD 900,000 from the State Oil Fund and a
further USD 550,000 from a GOAJ reserve fund for use in
purchasing equipment and supplies. The GOAJ was also
contemplating a system of "approved shops" in which poultry
would be offered for sale with "avian influenza free"
certification.


4. (SBU) Abbasov indicated that he planned to tour southern
Azerbaijan, site of many suspicious bird die-offs, beginning
February 25. He admitted that some regional ex-comms
(governors) had not been serious about tackling suspected AI
cases. He had corrected this deficiency by sending
veterinary officials out to meet local officials. Meanwhile,
a February 17 AI commission meeting had produced a GOAJ
action plan, a copy of which Abbasov provided to the
Ambassador. Abbasov added that a February 28 commission
meeting would examine specific mitigation proposals from
various line ministries and generate a new and more
comprehensive action plan. (NOTE: The February 17 action
plan is more a general call for proposals from ministries
than a set of concrete steps. END NOTE.) The commission had
begun to issue daily statements on the situation. However,
Abbasov said, television channels had been more active in
creating fear. Abbasov related that he contacted each
television channel, stressing that "all announcements on
avian influenza should be coordinated with the state
commission." The Ambassador pointed out that these alleged
media inaccuracies made it doubly important that the GOAJ
engage in a credible public awareness campaign.


5. (SBU) Abbasov turned next to the Ambassador's proposal to
begin weekly working group meetings between donors'
representatives and commission staff. He shared the
Ambassador's view that such meetings would better coordinate
international assistance and GOAJ needs, and agreed to begin
holding such sessions. He also reiterated his wish to
continue cooperation with the U.S., promising to instruct
GOAJ experts to accompany USG experts to the field "at any
time." The Ambassador reaffirmed the international
community's readiness to provide technical assistance and

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training for Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts.


6. (C) COMMENT: After nearly two months of going around in
circles with the GOAJ, DPM Abbasov's newfound candor and
concern were welcome. This attitude gave us some hope that
the GOAJ was slowly realizing the need for serious action.
However, the GOAJ's disorganized attempts at sample
collection and testing are still a weak link. This weakness
includes a stubborn persistence in sending samples to CIS
labs, such as Ukraine, that are not OIE reference facilities
for avian influenza testing. With more donor assistance
coming on line, it will now be critical for the GOAJ to come
up with a workable action plan on February 28 to capitalize
on the support of the international community. The GOAJ
continues to lose valuable time, and public credibility. We
will report on the action plan, once released, septel. END
COMMENT.
HARNISH