ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO AVIAN INFLUENZA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000113

SIPDIS

EUR/PPD-CFITZGERALD, JBASEDOW, EUR/CACEN-JDEHART, KWITMER

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: OPRC AM KMDR KPAO KFLU
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO AVIAN INFLUENZA
DELEGATION PRESS CONFERENCE


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SUMMARY
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1. On January 25, a U.S. government inter-agency team
visited Armenia as part of a multi-country trip to learn
about the region's preparations to address avian influenza.
During its visit to Armenia, part of the team held a press
conference at the U.S. Embassy. Media coverage of the event
was extensive, with major television stations, newspapers,
and news agencies reporting on it. Most outlets quoted
delegation leader Ann Derse, as well as the Embassy's press
release, without providing any commentary. One news agency
misquoted Derse, alleging that she denied there were any
cases of bird flu in Armenia, and a tabloid daily implied
that the threat of avian influenza was being exaggerated.
Two opposition newspapers focused on the delegation's praise
for Turkey's efforts to fight avian influenza. END SUMMARY.

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JUST THE FACTS
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2. Armenian Second, Public TV, Kentron, ALM, Shant, and
Yerkir Media television stations showed clips of the
conference and reported on the Embassy's press release
without providing analysis. Television stations focused on
delegation leader Ann Derse's statement that no cases of
avian influenza have been found yet in Armenia, as well as
her comments regarding the assistance that the United States
will provide to Armenia. (Note: Derse went on to say that
no country was immune to avian influenza and pressed for
active surveillance and preparation. End Note.)


3. "Armenia Liberty," RFE/RL's Armenian service, published
an article that quotes the U.S. Embassy press release and
focuses on the assistance that the United States will
provide to Armenia. The article quotes Derse as stating,
"The United States is committed to assisting Armenia, and
just as a result of today's discussions, some immediate
steps will be taken....Protecting the health of the workers
who deal with the disease both in the animal and human realm
is critical. In this connection, the U.S. will be sending
to Armenia within 10 days or so 1,500 kits of personal
protective equipment."


4. Arminfo, an independent news agency, quoted the U.S.
Embassy's press release at length and included quotes from
the press conference. The article states, "Within the
coming ten days, the U.S. government will provide supplies
such as personal protective equipment, test primers, and an
adviser to assist the government in its preparedness and
response plan in response to government requests. The best
protection against the influenza is active preparation,
detecting and containing avian influenza outbreaks, and
immediate response, she [Derse] said."

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NEWS AGENCY SAYS THERE ARE NO CASES OF BIRD FLU IN ARMENIA
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5. Mediamax, a news agency considered to be somewhat pro-
government, stated in an article, "There are no cases of
bird flu in Armenia, the head of the U.S. government inter-
agency team, Anne Derse, said at a briefing in Yerevan
today." (Note: Derse actually stated, "Cases [of avian
influenza] have not been found in Armenia yet to my
understanding." End Note.)

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TABLOID REPORTS "EVERYTHING IS FINE" REGARDING BIRD FLU
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6. "Haykakan Zhamanak," a tabloid daily, published an
article entitled "Don't Worry Be Happy," which implies that
the threat of avian influenza is being exaggerated. The
article states, "'Presently there is no bird flu in Armenia,
but an outbreak of it continues to be possible since Armenia
is located in a risk zone.' We have heard this for almost a
month from the mouths of almost every Armenian official. At
the press conference held at the new U.S. Embassy building,
almost the same sentence with only a few differences was
repeated by American experts who arrived in the
region...Judging from the calmness of the face of the U.S.
State Department representative Anne Derse, who is the head
of a delegation comprised of representatives from different
government agencies, one can be confident that everything is
fine regarding bird flu in Armenia."

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TWO NEWSPAPERS FOCUS ON COMMENTS REGARDING TURKEY
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7. "Aravot," a pro-opposition daily, published an article
entitled, "Bird Flu Diplomacy: U.S. experts did not explore
the results of their research in Turkey." The article
states, "The head of the delegation, Ann Derse, who is a
diplomat by profession, successfully avoided all questions
regarding the situation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia,
and whether the borders of those countries are secure enough
to ensure that the disease does not enter or exit the
country...thus displaying 'deep diplomacy.' Instead, she
and her 'apostles' clarified that she is 'delighted with the
preparedness of the Turkish government' and that they 'were
treated well by the countries of the Caucasus.'"


8. In an article entitled "The U.S. Delegation Ate Poultry
in Turkey," the opposition newspaper "168 Hours" notes, "Ann
Derse, the head of the delegation, mentioned that she
believes that the countries of the region can learn 'good
lessons' from Turkey. In this regard, Derse thinks that
there should be no problems between Turkey and Armenia
because 'all the countries of the world should cooperate for
the sake of health issues.'"

EVANS