US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR2692

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002692 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, KSCA, EAGR, ECON, PREL, SOCI, ES, WHO 
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU PARTNERSHIP NOT A PRIORITY FOR 
SALVADORANS 
 
REF: A. STATE 175585 
 
     B. SAN SALVADOR 2514 
 
Following up on a September 9 conversation, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs Director for Environmental Issues and 
Disasters Miguel Salazar told Econoff on September 28 that 
avian influenza is not a priority issue for the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs and that within the next week he would 
provide contact information for officials at the Ministries 
of Agriculture and of Health to continue dialogue on the 
issue.  Salazar also said that the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs would not support Salvadoran participation in the 
international partnership, given resource constraints and 
other pressing issues.  Econoff re-emphasized the importance 
of a coordinated, international effort on the issue and 
encouraged Salazar to reconsider, noting that without support 
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministries of 
Agriculture and Health would be handicapped in their efforts 
to participate in the partnership on behalf of El Salvador. 
Salazar promised to consult further within the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs on the issue.  Comment: Meanwhile, post will 
work with existing contacts at the Ministries of Agriculture 
and Health to seek their support and to pressure the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs to engage on this issue.  End comment. 
Barclay