GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALLY RESPONDS TO

UNCLAS BERLIN 000960 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO NSC: G8 SHERPA PRICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SENV WHO PREL GM SUBJECT: GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALLY RESPONDS TO U.S. G8 HEALTH DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 66363 ¶B. MEGILL-COPELAND EMAIL JUNE 23 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Berlin delivered the information in STATE 66363 about U.S. health priorities for the G8 summit to German Foreign Ministry State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg and Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry State Secretary Erich Stather on Monday, June 23 in formal letters from Deputy Chief of Mission John M. Koenig. The desk officers who cover these issues at the respective ministries were also phoned on Friday, June 20 to let them know letters about U.S. health priorities for the G8 summit would be forthcoming; copies of the signed letters were emailed directly to the responsible desk officers after receipt by the State Secretaries was confirmed. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy Berlin received a formal reply from Silberberg dated July 1 which is translated into English below: "Dear Mr. Minister, Thank you for your letter of June 23, 2008, informing me on the U.S. position regarding an important subject of the Japanese G8 presidency and explaining your proposals in regard to neglected tropical diseases and skilled health care workers. I am happy to forward this information to the health experts at the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as sections of the government that are involved in the negotiations of the summit documents, especially Dr. Pfaffenbach, personal representative of the German Chancellor for the G8 World Economic Summit. As I hear, the talks of the Sherpas regarding the summit documents are far advanced. I am confident that the further negotiations will lead to a good and satisfactory result for all. Sincerely, Reinhard Silberberg" TIMKEN JR