COORDINATOR ADAMS MEETING WITH MINISTER OF HEALTH AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000163 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SOCI EAID TX US SUBJECT: COORDINATOR ADAMS MEETING WITH MINISTER OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY SOPIEV Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Minister of Health Care and Medical Industry Byashim Sopiev expressed undiluted appreciation for past and present joint health programs, and readiness for new ones, throughout a one-hour meeting with EUR/ACE Assistance Coordinator Tom Adams, USAID Assistant Administrator Douglas Menarchik and Regional Mission Director Chris Crowley on January 31. End Summary. Working with an Old Friend -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Promoted from Deputy Minister on December 23, Minister Sopiev received the delegation in his old Deputy Minister's office. He thanked USAID for its ongoing support of the Tuberculosis-Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (TB-DOTS) program, lab diagnostics training and the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) activities. Sopiev noted that, while current Acting President Berdimuhammedov was Health Minister, Sopiev himself had been in charge of international assistance. As such, he had worked with U.S. counterparts on various programs for nine years. While listing some of the recent accomplishments in the sector, Sopiev noted that President Niyazov had signed a decree on the "Safe Motherhood" program the week he died. He expressed appreciation for good relations and promised to continue working together in the service of Turkmenistan's population. Adams complimented the minister for having taken the politically difficult decision to accept the WHO-developed international live birth definition, which as a byproduct will cause child mortality statistics to rise initially, as well as for passing a national HIV/AIDS strategy. HIV/AIDS Project MOU in Final Stages of Approval -------------- --- ¶3. (U) Adams asked if there were any obstacles to signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for USAID's CAPACITY project on HIV/AIDS. (Note: This has been under discussion for over a year, and was expected to be signed during December 2006. The postponed visit of USAID Regional Director Crowley and Niyazov's subsequent death precluded signing at that time. End Note.) Sopiev reassured the delegation that neither he nor his ministry had any outstanding impediments to signing the MOU. They had already submitted the document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the latter's mandatory final approval, which, he said, was a mere formality; he did not, however offer a timeframe for signing. Sopiev then admitted that the CAPACITY MOU process had also been delayed because Turkmenistan had applied to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM). In so doing, he displayed some confusion over the relationship between GFATM and CAPACITY; Crowley clarified that the two were entirely separate entities and the signing of the MOU should not be linked to the failure of the GFATM to approve Turkmenistan's applications. Sopiev called the CAPACITY project "useful" and a "good program for prevention." Disappointed Over Lack of Approval for Global Fund Proposal -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Sopiev expressed disappointment that Turkmenistan's recent applications to the Sixth Round of the Global Fund were not approved in November 2006 after so much work, with international support, had been expended. Failing to acknowledge the detailed feedback that had been provided by the Technical Review Panel as part of the non-approval, Sopiev said he did not understand the rejection. (Note: The application's three components were not rejected, but rather "not approved," and the applicant was encouraged to submit an improved proposal in some future round. End Note.) Adams said he shared Sopiev's disappointment, and related Kazakhstan's experience in submitting four applications for a tuberculosis grant before being approved in the Global Fund's Round 6, and urged that Turkmenistan reapply in the 7th Round. Without expressing a position either way regarding a Round 7 application, Sopiev expressed appreciation for Adams' commitment to continued support for the Ministry of Health through existing programs. ASHGABAT 00000163 002 OF 002 CDC Programs: Give Us a (Fresh) Chance -------------- ¶5. (U) Sopiev said he heard very good things about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) year-long Applied Epidemiology Training Program during a recent trip to Geneva. He acknowledged that the Turkmenistan authorities had failed to submit names for the program in the past, but said that they would seriously consider future invitations to participate. ¶6. (U) Adams inquired about two CDC lab-training events, which failed to take place last year as planned. Attributing the failure to issue a decree approving the training programs to "confusion" on both sides, Sopiev requested that CDC propose dates for these programs through official channels after the February 19 Flag Day holiday, and promised that his ministry would respond within one week. ¶7. (U) Addressing the top opportunities for expanded cooperation, Sopiev mentioned USAID/CDC's ongoing blood safety programs, and expressed particular interest in expanding the current activities on hepatitis control, and training programs on laboratory quality control and lab diagnostics. Sopiev also complimented USAID's ZdravPlus program, specifically its IMCI and Maternal and Child Health activities. He hoped to expand existing cooperation to include activities within the recently-approved Safe Motherhood framework, and to expand the ZdravPlus program's laboratory diagnostics and training activities. Resolution of Healthcare Obstacles in Sight? -------------- ¶8. (U) Adams raised the issue of the burden of permits and other bureaucratic requirements, and suggested that they could halve the amount of assistance delivered for a given input of resources and effort. Sopiev acknowledged this point, and proudly noted that the medical-policy platform of "their" presidential candidate, Acting President Berdimuhammedov, proposed several steps to improve the capacity of healthcare sector workers. If elected, he suggested, these burdens could be reduced in accordance with Berdimuhammedov's platform. Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Given post's long and positive working relationship with Sopiev personally and with the Ministry of Health more generally, it is not surprising that this meeting was so positive. Although Sopiev has been reluctant to give the appearance of stepping up too soon to move into his predecessor's office, we do not expect that he will have similar reservations over proposals for expanded cooperation in the aforementioned sectors. Given the prominence the former minister and current acting president has placed on improving the social sectors, U.S. Government relations and cooperation with the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry could expand significantly given additional resources. End Comment. BRUSH