Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1791
2006-04-04 08:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SMALLPOX AT THE WHA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #1791 0940856 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 040856Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0499 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2808 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1163 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1448 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0373 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0954 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 9470 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4884 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0233 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1941 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0098 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS TOKYO 001791
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR DAVID HOHMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL WHO JA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SMALLPOX AT THE WHA
REF: STATE 50724
UNCLAS TOKYO 001791
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR DAVID HOHMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL WHO JA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SMALLPOX AT THE WHA
REF: STATE 50724
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) ESToff met with Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare (MHLW) Deputy Director for International Cooperation
Shinichiro Noda, Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases Control
Division Official Ai Sato and others and delivered reftel
demarche. Noda said that no one would represent the Ministry
at the April 5 resolution drafting meeting to be held in
Geneva. MHLW had originally considered sending someone, but
due to scheduling conflicts, it was unable to dispatch any of
its experts. ESToff suggested that it would be useful to
send someone from the Japanese Mission in Geneva, even if
experts from Tokyo could not attend. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs later confirmed that First Secretary Takako Tsujisaka
would represent Japan at the meeting.
3. (SBU) Noda told ESToff that officials at his Ministry feel
it is an appropriate time to continue discussing plans to
destroy all remaining stocks of the Variola virus. Japan has
yet to see the results from the most recent review conducted
by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research. He
said it was important to determine which research projects
involving the smallpox virus were really necessary. Once
this determination is made, it will be important to
distinguish those projects that could be accomplished without
using the live virus. Japan will carefully consider the
draft and any other views that come out of the April 5
meeting in conjunction with the results from the Advisory
Committee review to formulate its own position on setting a
specific date for the destruction of the virus. Tokyo
understands the post 9/11 implications of smallpox research,
but believes that as soon as critical research is concluded,
the Variola virus should be destroyed. Noda also said that
it was important to consider the smallpox issue under the
auspices of the Global Health Security Action Group (GHSAG).
Noda expressed interest in further talking with the United
States about the security implications of potentially hidden
stocks of the virus.
-- Action Request --
4. (SBU) Noda concluded the meeting by asking ESToff if the
United States would consider setting a date to destroy all
stocks of the smallpox virus once it has been determined that
research on the virus has been fully exhausted. Post would
appreciate any cleared language that we can pass to MHLW
outlining the official USG position on the ultimate
destruction of the Variola virus.
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR DAVID HOHMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL WHO JA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SMALLPOX AT THE WHA
REF: STATE 50724
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) ESToff met with Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare (MHLW) Deputy Director for International Cooperation
Shinichiro Noda, Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases Control
Division Official Ai Sato and others and delivered reftel
demarche. Noda said that no one would represent the Ministry
at the April 5 resolution drafting meeting to be held in
Geneva. MHLW had originally considered sending someone, but
due to scheduling conflicts, it was unable to dispatch any of
its experts. ESToff suggested that it would be useful to
send someone from the Japanese Mission in Geneva, even if
experts from Tokyo could not attend. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs later confirmed that First Secretary Takako Tsujisaka
would represent Japan at the meeting.
3. (SBU) Noda told ESToff that officials at his Ministry feel
it is an appropriate time to continue discussing plans to
destroy all remaining stocks of the Variola virus. Japan has
yet to see the results from the most recent review conducted
by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research. He
said it was important to determine which research projects
involving the smallpox virus were really necessary. Once
this determination is made, it will be important to
distinguish those projects that could be accomplished without
using the live virus. Japan will carefully consider the
draft and any other views that come out of the April 5
meeting in conjunction with the results from the Advisory
Committee review to formulate its own position on setting a
specific date for the destruction of the virus. Tokyo
understands the post 9/11 implications of smallpox research,
but believes that as soon as critical research is concluded,
the Variola virus should be destroyed. Noda also said that
it was important to consider the smallpox issue under the
auspices of the Global Health Security Action Group (GHSAG).
Noda expressed interest in further talking with the United
States about the security implications of potentially hidden
stocks of the virus.
-- Action Request --
4. (SBU) Noda concluded the meeting by asking ESToff if the
United States would consider setting a date to destroy all
stocks of the smallpox virus once it has been determined that
research on the virus has been fully exhausted. Post would
appreciate any cleared language that we can pass to MHLW
outlining the official USG position on the ultimate
destruction of the Variola virus.
DONOVAN