WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON SMALLPOX

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000040 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC TBIO CA WHO SUBJECT: WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON SMALLPOX AGENDA ITEM REF: SECSTATE 232766 ESTH Counselor made the demarche requested in reftel to senior health and foreign affair officials in the Canadian Government, including Senior Asst. Deputy Minister of Health, Ian Shugart, Director General for International Affairs at Health Canada, Carla Gilders, and Senior Policy Advisor for International Health Affairs at Foreign Affairs Canada, Don MacPhee. Gilders told us that the GOC was sympathetic to our concerns. The GOC would like to see the eventual destruction of smallpox virus stocks in the U.S. and Russia, but understands the need for continued research for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines. Her comments were echoed by Don MacPhee, who represented Canada in Geneva on WHO issues prior to his reassignment to Ottawa. Both said that there would be a Canadian delegation meeting in Ottawa next week to prepare for the upcoming WHO Executive Board meeting and noted that the U.S. demarche would be discussed at that time. Post will report any additional information we may be able to get on the GOC's position prior to the Executive Board meeting later this month. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS