AUSTRIA ACCEPTS INVITAION FOR SIDE EVENT AT AVIAN

UNCLAS VIENNA 000093

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA (JSBLODGETT),EUR/ERA (ACARNIE) AND
EUR/AGS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSCA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ACCEPTS INVITAION FOR SIDE EVENT AT AVIAN
FLU CONFERENCE IN BEJING

REF: STATE 2890


1. We conveyed reftel nvitation for the USG side meetings
at the Pledgng Conference on Avian Flu in Beijing to Hubert
Habcik, General Director for Public Health at the Mnistry
of Health and to Thomas Buchsbaum, Head o the MFA's
Department for Social and Healt Affairs. Buchsbaum told us
that Minister of Health Maria Rauch-Kallat will lead the
Austrian delegation. Hrabcik and Clemens Auer, Rauch-
Kallat's Chief of Staff, will also attend.


2. Minister Rauch-Kallat will depart Beijing January 18.
Hrabcik and Buchsbaum will depart mid-day January 19, but
both are willing to attend a side meeting early morning on
January 19.


3. Hrabcik indicated that the GoA, especially in its
capacity as EU President, welcomes a discussion on IPAPI.
He proposed two subjects, which Austria is keen to discuss
with the USG. One is the development of cell cultures for
vaccines and their clinical implementation. Hrabcik pointed
out that an Austrian-based subsidiary of the U.S. firm
Baxter is leading the research effort in this area. Second,
Austria would like to develop a mechanism to ensure that
sufficient antivirals remain available for routine influenza
treatment, as governments continue to stockpile for a
pandemic.


4. Following is contact information for the Austrian
delegation: Dr. Hubert Hrabcik, General Director for Public
Health, Ministry of Health and Women, phone: +43-1-
7110004719, e-mail: hubert.hrabcik@bmgf.gv.at. Dr. Thomas
Buchsbaum, Head of the MFA's Department for Social and
Health Policy, phone: +43-0501150-3576 or +43-676-8999-3576,
e-mail: thomas.buchsbaum@bmaa.gv.at.

MCCAW#