ITALY PARTICIPATION AT WHA PREPAREDNESS MINISTERIAL

UNCLAS ROME 001475

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES/IHA, HHS FOR OSOPHS (E.YUAN)

GENEVA FOR HEALTH ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU IT WHO
SUBJECT: ITALY PARTICIPATION AT WHA PREPAREDNESS MINISTERIAL

REF: STATE 076464

OGHA-103-06


1. (U) Per instructions in reftel, on May 15, Science
Specialist delivered Secretary Leavitt's invitation to Italy's
Minister of Health, plus up to two staff members, to attend the
May 22 Ministerial meeting on influenza preparedness issues at
the World Health Assembly (WHA).


2. (U) Italy's new Minister of Health has not yet been named
following national elections on April 9-10. Senior Medical
Officer Dr. Francesco Cicogna of the Ministry's Directorate
General for European Union and International Relations assured
Science Specialist that Secretary Leavitt's invitation would be
brought to the new Minister's attention if he or she is named
prior to May 22. We will inform the Department, HHS, and Geneva,
if the new Minister is named by that date and decides to attend
the World Health Assembly and the May 22 meeting.


3. (U) Dr. Cicogna informed us that as of May 15, Italy will be
represented at the Secretary's May 22 meeting by Dr. Donato
Greco, Director General for Health Prevention, Ministry of
Health. Dr. Greco, who speaks fluent English, represented Italy
at the April 27 Health Ministerial Meeting of the G-8 in Moscow.
He would be accompanied by Dr. Cicogna and/or Professor Giancarlo
Majori, Head of the WHO Liaison Office for Research and
Management of Tropical Diseases at Italy's Higher Institute of
Health.
SPOGLI