WHO: AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH WHO

UNCLAS GENEVA 001886 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR G, IO, OES/IHA PASS TO HHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC TBIO WHO SUBJECT: WHO: AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL CANDIDATES ¶1. Summary. Ambassador Tichenor met July 26, 2006, with Dr. Shigeru Omi of Japan and July 27, 2006, with Mr. David Gunnarsson of Iceland, both of whom are candidates to be Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO). Omi stressed his technical, management and political skills, promising to finish the agenda of the late WHO DG Jong-wook Lee. Gunnarsson, protesting he is not a "Nordic" candidate, stressed his public health experience in Iceland and his service as Chair of the WHO Executive Board in 2004-2005. Ambassador Tichenor welcomed both candidatures, while emphasizing that before reaching a decision on whom to support, the United States would meet with all the candidates to assess how closely their vision for WHO aligns with U.S. policy and priorities. End summary. Dr. Shigeru Omi -------------- ¶2. Dr. Omi has taken a leave of absence from his position as Director of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, in Manila. He told Ambassador Tichenor he has been traveling widely and has received positive indications of support from officials in Africa, the Middle East and "some" in Asia. Emphasizing his track record as a leader, and pointing to his 17 years of service with WHO, he cited his work on SARS and avian influenza as areas where he has demonstrated technical and political leadership. ¶3. Omi described his goals as completing the agenda of the former WHO Director-General, the late Dr. Jong-wook Lee; implementing World Health Assembly resolutions and delivering on the commitments therein; maintaining a constant dialogue with Member States; and using his technical skill, management ability, and political acumen to deliver results. ¶4. Responding to a question on whether or not he saw as an obstacle the fact that Japan already held the position of WHO DG for ten years, Omi noted the lack of the principle of geographical rotation at WHO and said he was running on merit and experience. In closing, Omi asked for U.S. support and U.S. influence with the WHO Executive Board members from Afghanistan and Iraq on his behalf. Omi plans to travel to Washington Aug. 24-25 and hopes to meet with IO Assistant Secretary Silverberg and HHS Secretary Leavitt. SIPDIS ¶5. Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Japanese PermRep in Geneva, and Dr. Yojirou Sato, Deputy Director, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, accompanied Omi. Mr. David Gunnarsson -------------- ¶6. Noting the entry into the race of Dr. Margaret Chan of China, Gunnarsson described his candidacy as one of "David and Goliath." Acknowledging that he is not a physician, which could hurt his chances, Gunnarsson also said he was not a "Nordic" candidate - an obvious bow to the fact that both Denmark and Norway have held the WHO DG position and that there is also a Finnish candidate in the race this time. Gunnarsson said he had not been interested in the race initially, but several Executive Board members had encouraged him to run. ¶7. Gunnarsson said he had backed Dr. Lee and would continue his agenda, while also focusing on UN reform, implementation of the International Health Regulations, and achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Turning to the subject of avian influenza, he cited the major challenges as transparency of reporting, compensation for farmers, and vaccine development. ¶8. Gunnarsson was vague about his plans to visit Washington. Ambassador Kristinn Arnason, Iceland's PermRep in Geneva, accompanied Gunnarsson. TICHENOR