VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0074/01 0231411
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231411Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5418
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 3461
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4508
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1108
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0394
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0369
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0417
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4094
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 2025
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0144

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID KSCA TBIO KSTH WHO AMED PREL CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: UPDATE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS 
 
REFS: (A) NICOSIA 50 (B) NICOSIA 34 (C) 05 NICOSIA 1914 
 
(D) 05 NICOSIA 1866 (E) 05 NICOSIA 1836 (F) 05 NICOSIA 
1740 (G) 05 NICOSIA 1676 (H) 05 NICOSIA 1591 (I) 05 
NICOSIA 1488 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Because Cyprus is only 45 miles from the 
Turkish shore and on the flight path for thousands of 
migratory birds, Cypriot officials continue to believe 
that it is only a matter of time before Avian Influenza 
is found on the island.  The outbreak in Turkey has 
redoubled efforts (and fears), prompting both the GoC and 
Turkish Cypriot authorities to introduce new measures. 
In the past two weeks, the Turkish Cypriot authorities 
have cancelled the hunting season, prohibited the use of 
areas around ponds for recreational use, and are actively 
destroying all poultry not kept in pens or under cover. 
The Greek Cypriots have banned duck hunting (but not 
hunting of other birds) and have begun checking every 
vehicle coming from the area administered by Turkish 
Cypriots, leading to long lines at the checkpoints -- a 
move many see as politically motivated.  Several contacts 
have suggested that the GoC is likely to close the 
checkpoints if an AI outbreak occurs in the north. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Coordination between the GoC and the Turkish 
Cypriot authorities remains limited, although the USAID- 
financed, UNDP-administered ACT program continues to host 
regular unofficial meetings of the respective veterinary 
services.  In an effort to spur similar cooperation 
between the health services, ACT has invited experts from 
both sides to attend a briefing February 1 to be 
conducted by a leading WHO AI official.  The European 
Commission is sending two AI veterinarian specialists to 
provide assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community the 
week of February 13.  End summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU) There have been no confirmed cases of avian 
influenza in birds or humans on the island.  Given the 
recent outbreak in neighboring Turkey and Cyprus's 
position on the pathway of two major bird migratory 
patterns, Cypriot officials continue to believe that an 
outbreak is only a question of time.  Recent press 
reports that a Pakistani girl had contracted AI in the 
Turkish Cypriot community turned out to be false (reftel 
A).  On January 22, the Greek Cypriot press reported that 
several hundred chickens had died in the north on a 
single farm, suggesting this could be linked to bird flu. 
Tests, however, came back negative and it appears that 
the birds were infant chicks that had been left out in a 
rainstorm by an inexperienced farmer.  While the vet 
services on both sides continue to monitor farms and 
lakes and examine dead birds for AI, no cases of AI have 
been identified. 
 
Increased Measures by the Turkish Cypriot Community 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶4. (U) On January 18, the Turkish Cypriot veterinary 
service briefed the diplomatic community on additional 
steps that it had implemented in the north since the 
death of the first AI victim in Turkey.  (See reftels for 
previous measures).  In the past two weeks, the Turkish 
Cypriots leadership has: 
 
-- cancelled the hunting season for small birds that was 
scheduled to begin January 15; 
 
-- ordered all poultry, as well as all water and feed for 
poultry, to be placed in enclosed areas to prevent 
interaction with migratory birds.  Earlier this week, the 
veterinary service began destroying any poultry found 
outside, without any compensation to the owner.  (Bird 
owners who comply with the ruling and have poultry that 
must be culled due to an outbreak will be compensated.) 
According to the "Chief Veterinarian Officer," officials 
had already confiscated and killed several hundred 
otherwise healthy birds. 
 
-- prohibited the use of all ponds for recreational use 
(because of the presence of migratory birds).  Fishing in 
or picknicking near ponds is banned. 
-- reinvigorated their 
 public outreach campaign with 
training held for farmers and medical staff as well as 
pamphlets distributed to schools and newspapers on how to 
avoid contracting the disease.  A 24-hour hotline was set 
up to facilitate reports of dead birds or of poultry 
found outside of pens. 
 
-- placed health inspectors at all ports. Anyone 
suspected of being ill is sent immediately to a hospital. 
 
-- renewed the ban, begun this fall, on all imports from 
all countries of raw poultry, live birds and bird 
products (including feathers).  Only poultry that has 
been heat-treated at a minimum of 70 degrees Celsius will 
be allowed to enter north Cyprus.  (note: the Turkish 
Cypriot community does not import any poultry or poultry 
products from the U.S.  The press has reported Turkish 
Cypriot poultry farmers claiming a drop in sales of 
between 75 to 90 percent.) 
 
-- identified areas where culled birds could be buried 
according to EU regulations.  Turkish Cypriot authorities 
have already acquired protective gear, disinfectants, CO2 
chambers, and a mobile incinerator for this purpose. 
(The incinerator was provided by the USAID funded ACT 
program). 
 
-- passed a list of additional materials needed to ACT 
for possible procurement.  ACT will review the list and 
provide additional equipment and supplies as appropriate. 
 
¶5. (SBU) A Turkish Cypriot veterinary official reported 
that his office had completed and was implementing an AI 
contingency plan that consciously mirrored the plan 
prepared by the RoC veterinary service.  (Note: The RoC 
veterinary service had informally shared its plan with 
the Turkish Cypriots in late 2005.  In November, together 
with officials from the UK and DG Enlargement, post 
passed an additional copy of the RoC text to Turkish 
Cypriot "PM" Soyer and urged him to prepare and implement 
a compatible plan to facilitate intra-island cooperation. 
End note.) 
 
¶6. (U) Turkish Cypriot veterinary officers noted that 
they were regularly conducting Elisa testing on dead 
birds, although the tests could not identify the subtype 
of AI.  Any positive results were sent to the Turkish 
national laboratories in Izmir or Istanbul for further 
analysis.  Birds that tested negative were discarded. 
The "Under Secretary" of the "Ministry" of Health added 
that an Avian Influenza Coordination and Monitoring 
Committee chaired by the "Minister of Health" had been 
established late fall and was meeting at least twice a 
month. 
 
Additional RoC Measures 
------------------------ 
¶7. (U) The GoC has also taken some additional steps to 
address the AI threat (for previous GoC actions, please 
see reftels).  Duck hunting has been banned and customs 
and police have increased inspections at the checkpoints 
leading from the Turkish Cypriot community.  Previously 
the authorities checked only one out of every 10 to 20 
vehicles crossing the Green Line into the south; now 
every vehicle and every individual is being checked, 
leading to long lines and delays at the checkpoint.  IDs 
are being checked twice, and for the first time, 
information on Greek Cypriots crossing over is being 
recorded.  While it used to take up to 30 minutes to 
cross south through the Ayios Demetios checkpoint in 
Nicosia at rush hour, drivers are now reporting waits up 
to two to three hours.  The GoC has also established new 
checkpoints outside of Pyla and Strovilia in order to 
inspect people/vehicles transiting the Green Line through 
the UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBA).  Previously, 
inspections by the UK base authorities were deemed 
sufficient.  In addition, the GoC has announced plans to 
introduce carpets treated with disinfectant, through 
which all cars/people will be required to drive/walk. 
 
¶8. (U) Responding to complaints that the new measures 
appear to be disrupting relations between the two 
communities and are aimed to discourage Greek Cypriots 
from visiting the north, the GoC has argued that it is 
merely enforcing the EU's Green Line Regulation.  This 
regulation requires the GoC to "carry out checks on all 
persons crossing the line... to detect and prevent any 
threat to public security..."  It also requires that "All 
persons shall undergo at least one check to establish 
their identity," something that was not being fully 
enforced up until now. 
 
Concern GoC Could Close Checkpoint 
---------------------------------- 
¶9.  (SBU) There is also growing concern that the GoC 
could close the checkpoints should avian influenza be 
found in the north.  Last week President of the Chamber 
of Commerce and Industry Manthos Mavrommatis warned us 
that pressure for closing the checkpoints in case of an 
AI outbreak was growing.  On January 17, AKEL Euro MEP 
Adamos Admaou specifically advocated this and called on 
Greek Cypriots to immediately limit their movements to 
the Turkish Cypriot community because of AI health 
concerns.  President Papadopoulos denied to the press 
that the GoC has any plan to close the checkpoints, but 
noted that this could not be ruled out.  Meanwhile, the 
Turkish Cypriots have no intent to close the checkpoint 
(and put out of work the 5,000 plus Turkish Cypriots who 
work in the south) should an outbreak occur in the 
government-controlled area.  (COMMENT: Less charitable 
observers suspect hard-line elements within the GOC are 
looking for an excuse to shut the checkpoints as a way of 
pressuring the Turkish Cypriot community.  One wryly 
noted to us the birds would not bother stopping at the 
Green Line if the checkpoints were closed.  Many Turkish 
Cypriots cross south regularly for work, school, shopping 
and medical treatment.  END COMMENT.) 
 
Concern About Lack of Cooperation Between Communities 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶10. (SBU) The relative absence of cooperation between the 
GoC and the Turkish Cypriot community remains a serious 
concern.  While the USAID-funded, UNDP-administered ACT 
program is regularly hosting informal meetings between 
the two respective veterinary services, these meetings 
have been restricted to technical-level contacts. 
Health officials from both sides have yet to meet.  We 
also remain concerned about the lack of coordination 
between the veterinary and health authorities, especially 
in the Turkish Cypriot north.  To try to overcome this, 
ACT has invited a WHO official to brief health and 
veterinary experts from both sides (as well as from the 
UK SBA) on February 1.  The European Commission will also 
be sending veterinary, and possibly health, experts to 
visit the island (with special emphasis on the Turkish 
Cypriot community) the week of February 13. 
 
Large Drop in Demand for Poultry 
-------------------------------- 
¶11. (U) Turkish Cypriot poultry farmers have reported a 
drop in poultry sales of between 75 to 90 percent in the 
north, according to the press.  Sales of poultry in the 
south dropped 50 percent during the original AI panic in 
October and November, but had gradually recovered after 
people began to understand that eating cooked poultry was 
safe.  Following the deaths in Turkey, a Greek Cypriot 
supermarket owner reported a slight drop of sales, around 
10 percent, but nothing like the panic that had occurred 
earlier.  U.S. exports of poultry products to Cyprus have 
historically been very limited.  The U.S. exported less 
than $100,000 in poultry products, mostly eggs, to the 
government-controlled area of Cyprus in 2004 and does not 
export any poultry products to the north. 
 
Comment: 
-------- 
¶12. (SBU) The recent deaths in Turkey have finally 
brought home to Cypriot authorities the seriousness of a 
possible AI outbreak.  This is especially true of the 
Turkish Cypriot authorities, who had been lagging behind 
in their preparations.  Nevertheless, we still remain 
concerned that despite the advanced planning, a major 
outbreak would quickly overwhelm both sides' ability to 
adequately respond.  We also remain concerned that petty 
political point-scoring will prevent any coordinated 
response or meaningful cooperation among the GoC and the 
Turkish Cypriot authorities.  We will continue to 
encourage full implementation of the AI contingency plans 
as well as closer cooperation among experts from both 
communities. 
 
SCHLICHER