Wikileaks - XXXIV
- "50448","1/24/2006 5:40","06ANKARA263","Embassy Ankara","UNCLASSIFIED","06ANKARA137","VZCZCXRO9564
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHPB
DE RUEHAK #0263/01 0240540
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240540Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2695
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0546
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1827
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1309
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0802
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0344
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 1480
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0971
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 2956
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1489
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 1176
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0798
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0568
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0154
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 5319
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 0669
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 6889
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6534
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6472
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 0073
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 0306
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 9642
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/39CES INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/BDP INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1429
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ASTANA 0070
RUEHZN/EST COLLECTIVE","UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000263
SIPDIS
USAID FOR TROSTLE, BLANCHET AND CARROLL
HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ
FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL, FAS/JDEVER
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
VIENNA PASS APHIS
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE
ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: TBIO, AMED, EAID, CASC, SENV, EAGR, KPAO, TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AVIAN INFLUENZA: AMBASSADOR\'S JAN 19
MEETING WITH HEALTH MINISTER
REF: ANKARA 137 ANKARA 134 AND PREVIOUS ANKARA 00000263 001.2 OF 003
1. SUMMARY: In his first meeting with the GOT Minister of Health, Ambassador focused on the Avian Influenza (AI) situation, expressing U.S. sympathy, commitment to provide support, and admiration for Turkey\'s response, transparency, and collaboration. The Minister stressed that AI was a global problem, requiring a united front, and an emphasis on education, information sharing, and cooperation. Both cited Turkey\'s potential as a model for other countries in fashining global and local preparedness and response End Summary.
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Strong Response from GOT
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2. In a call on Minister of Health Recep Akdag on January 19, Ambassador focused on the current Avian Influenza outbreak in Turkey. Accompanied by two members of the visiting USG AI multi-agency delegation, Ambassador lauded GOT\'s actions, transparency, and collaboration with international organizations in grappling with multiple AI influenza outbreaks in backyard poultry and 21 human cases (of which, four deaths).
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Global Problem
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3. The Minister stressed that AI is a global problem, requiring sustained cooperation to minimize its spread among humans to reduce the potential for mutations that would enable human-to-human transmission. Noting that the risk came from so-called \"backyard fowl\", Akdag stated that a GOT priority should be to protect the 290 million-bird commercial poultry industry. He advocated completing culling and eradicating the 10 million backyard poultry raising, which was the sole population affected by the current multiple outbreaks and containment/culling operations. The Minister supported GOT efforts to help the populace convert to contained, hygienic poultry husbandry.
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Need for Good Communication
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ANKARA 00000263 002.2 OF 003
4. Akdag acknowledged the need for better communication and education for farmers and consumers on safe practices. He noted that the GOT was working closely with the Education and Religious Affairs Ministries to fashion and transmit messages for schools and mosques. He emphasized the transparency shown by the GOT, but claimed that neighboring countries were not showing reciprocal transparency. The Minister claimed that there must be unreported cases in these countries, and lamented that they were not receiving any information from them.
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Global and Local Problems Need Global and Local Solutions
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5. Ambassador and AI Del Members agreed that it is likely that AI exists in neighboring countries. Ambassador noted that that was why he pushed for the AI Del to travel on to the Caucasus. He said Turkey\'s preparedness and response could serve as a useful model for other countries.
6. In response to a question from Ambassador on in-country coordination, the Minister described the new crisis coordination center under the Prime Ministry, intended to promote better information sharing between the separate (but with some personnel exchange) crisis coordination centers in the Ministries of Health and Agriculture. In addition, the Minister cited the meeting planned for January 19 of Provincial Governors and Health and Agriculture Directors. Finally, the Minister noted the earlier completion of a National Pandemic Plan, now under revision based on the current situation. (Note: While inter-agency coordination is a gap in Turkey, international observers give Turkey reasonably high marks. GOT officials participate in working level meetings at the WHO crisis centers in Ankara and in Van in eastern Turkey. The WHO applauded Turkey\'s National Pandemic Plan. End Note.)
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Laboratory Capacity - Role for U.S. Support
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7. The Minister asked for U.S. support for his goal of realizing a high security (BSL-3) virology laboratory in Ankara, capable of sub-typing H5/N1, capable of serving regional needs, and able to serve as a catalyst for sharing ANKARA 00000263 003.2 OF 003 Turkey\'s know-how and experiences. The accompanying CDC Official stated that he expected the long CDC collaboration with the GOT to continue. He also noted that there were two CDC officials integrated into the WHO team in Turkey.
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Scientific Research
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8. As Turkey\'s AI crisis apparently abates, Ambassador applauded Turkey\'s willingness to collaborate on valuable scientific research with international partners so as to understand Turkey\'s experience. Ambassador repeated the USG\'s commitment to support Turkey as a key ally grappling with a serious problem, and - in addition - to work closely with Turkey and others to establish a common coordinated front in battling AI. Finally, the Ambassador promised to arrange a de-briefing of senior Ministry of Health (and other) officials upon the return of the USG AI Delegation from the Caucasus.
Wilson
