US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA9413

UNCLAS BOGOTA 009413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, EAGR, ECON, PREL, SOCI, KSCA, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN AVIAN FLU SENIOR 
OFFICIALS MEETING 
 
REF: A. STATE 180478 
 
     B. STATE 175585 
 
1. (U) PolOff met with representatives from MFA, the Ministry 
of Public Health and animal health experts from the Ministry 
of Agriculture on September 27 to discuss Colombian 
participation in the International Partnership on Avian and 
Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI) and the Senior Officials Meeting 
(SOM).  The GOC will send a high-ranking, Washington-based 
official to the SOM.  Post expects to receive further 
information on October 5. 
 
2.  (U) MFA and Public Health representatives said the GOC 
shares U.S. concerns about the potential avian flu pandemic 
and is committed to immediate notification of any outbreaks. 
The MFA/Public Health representatives were concerned, 
however, that IPAPI would duplicate and/or draw attention 
away from international efforts to combat avian flu already 
undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO).  PolOff 
explained that IPAPI will work with WHO and other existing 
international organizations.  GOC representatives still 
appear skeptical, saying they did not want any new 
international efforts against avian flu to undermine existing 
mechanisms. 
 
WOOD