AZERBAIJAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES THAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000329 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/PGI, ALSO MED AND OES DEPT PLEASE PASS AID AND USDA ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR ROME FOR FAO REPRESENTATIVE GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016 TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KFLU PREL PGOV CASC AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES THAT AVIAN INFLUENZA FOUND IN DOMESTIC POULTRY, BUT STRONGLY CRITICIZES INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE REF: BAKU 322 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RENO L. HARNISH III; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a tense meeting with the donor community March 1, a very agitated Deputy Prime Minister Abbas Abbasov, head of the GOAJ avian influenza commission, confirmed for the first time avian influenza in domestic poultry and one commercial poultry farm. Abbasov indicated that GOAJ laboratory testing provided the results; no samples were sent to an international reference laboratory. He excoriated donor plans for assistance, calling them slow, and criticized plans for consultants rather than money for equipment. He promised to share the GOAJ's new avian influenza action plan, which the commission adopted at its February 28 meeting. In a pull-aside with DCM and UNICEF Country Director, Abbasov said he was contemplating a decision to stop completely all imports of poultry into Azerbaijan, regardless of country of origin. DCM said explicitly that bans on imports without reference to international practice would not only be ineffective, but would invite international criticism. DPM Abbasov left it unclear what his final decision would be. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On March 1, DPM Abbasov convoked the DCM, USAID Country Coordinator, and representatives from Asian Development Bank (ADB),EU's Europa House, World Bank, WHO, and UNICEF to discuss donor support for the GOAJ's avian influenza efforts. He characterized avian influenza as a serious threat to Azerbaijan. Not only was H5N1 confirmed in wild birds, H5 influenza was now confirmed in one commercial poultry farm North of Baku, as well as in domestic poultry. (NOTE: Abbasov did not elaborate on where domestic poultry had tested positive, nor did he mention another poultry farm that lost 70,000 of its 100,000 poultry over the weekend. He said that the GOAJ's veterinary lab, which Post has repeatedly noted as deficient, provided the only analysis; no samples were sent to an international reference lab. END NOTE.) We Don't Want Your Consultants, Just Your Money -------------- -- �00A; ¶3. (C) Nevertheless, Abbasov said, the GOAJ was taking "all necessary measures." Ongoing difficulties with the GOAJ response were the result of lack of finances. Abbasov continued by indicting the donor community for its lack of response. The GOAJ, he said, had previously addressed donors, but no assistance had been provided. In response, ADB's Country Director detailed a USD 50,000 shipment of 6,000 sets of PPE equipment already en route and a USD 160,000 project to bring international consultants to DPM's office for two months. The latter project, he said, was to enable the GOAJ to focus on upgrading the level of its response and coordination among donors. Abbasov snapped that the GOAJ had no need for USD 160,000 consultants, but instead needed equipment. He strongly dismissed ADB's offer of consultants, then turned his ire on the World Bank's similar offer, which he claimed would cost USD 1 million. (NOTE: Abbasov later accused the World Bank of profiteering on the crisis. WB noted that procurements under its projects are handled by the GOAJ. END NOTE.) ¶4. (C) The DCM stressed that the avian influenza issue was a worldwide struggle; the international community was ready to help Azerbaijan. However, one of the most important ways to ensure Azerbaijan received proper resources, he said, was to institute an aggressive program of active surveillance and testing, with verification at international reference laboratories. DPM Abbasov conceded the importance of using international reference labs, but complained about difficulties reaching the Weybridge laboratory. (NOTE: Post is following up. END NOTE.) Such an approach would make it easier for the international community to direct resources to areas and agencies where it was needed. More information from the GOAJ, he said, meant more resources could be brought to Azerbaijan. DCM also detailed USG support to Azerbaijan to date in this crisis. BAKU 00000329 002 OF 002 An (In)Action Plan? -------------- ¶5. (C) The DCM noted to DPM Abbasov that during the latter's February 24 meeting with the Ambassador, Abbasov had stated a new GOAJ action plan would be adopted at the February 28 AI commission meeting (reftel). Abbasov stated that a new action plan was adopted at the meeting, and promised to deliver copies to the donor community on March 1. He summarized the major themes of the action plan as the following: allocation of USD 2.6 million in additional funding for the Veterinary Service, USD 400,000 for the Ministry of Health, and USD 200,000 for the Ministry of Ecology. The action plan envisioned daily "monitoring" of coasts and lakes where wild fowl congregate. In addition, the action plan proposed efforts to make regional authorities (ex-comms) more responsive, as well as more proposals on public awareness activities. Misdirected Efforts Restrict Trade -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In a pull-aside with DCM and UNICEF Country Director following the meeting, DPM Abbasov intimated that the commission decided February 28 to stop completely all import of poultry products into Azerbaijan, but that he wanted to confer with the U.S. Ambassador in the spirit of open dialogue. This restriction would affect all countries, regardless of whether it had cases of avian influenza. The people of Azerbaijan, Abbasov said, were simply not willing to buy poultry anymore. As a result, he felt it his duty to ensure there was no AI risk to the public. The DCM responded strongly that there was no scientific basis to restrict imports from countries, such as the U.S., with no confirmed avian influenza cases. The public's reluctance to buy chicken was all the more reason to carry out a vigorous public awareness campaign. The USG, he said, was interested in helping Azerbaijan preserve its domestic industry as well as our exports. Abbasov remained adamant, stating, "This (the decision) is all done," and claiming that he could not force people to eat chicken. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Throughout the tense meeting, Abbasov remained clearly agitated. His behavior and approach suggested extreme stress, perhaps bordering on panic. Furthermore, he made no attempt to distinguish particular areas of Azerbaijan as affected by AI, as the GOAJ has taken great pains to do in the past. Post views his silence on this issue as a tacit admission that avian influenza has spread throughout much of Azerbaijan. The good news is that he is no longer in denial. The bad news is that he is not ready to welcome international assistance, including policy guidance, and is still insisting that they can do the job themselves with enough protective suits and disinfectant. The ongoing, and in our view irrational, focus on "monitoring" wild fowl and instituting border measures affecting imports only serves to distract the GOAJ from the real crisis now enveloping the country. Post intends to engage Abbasov directly to urge a more constructive approach with the donor community. At the same time, Post will use the opportunity of an audience with President Aliyev for the Ambassador to restate our concern at the highest level. HARNISH