VZCZCXYZ0024
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #1265 2921219
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191219Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4078
INFO RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 1634
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 1368

UNCLAS BAKU 001265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/IIP/G/EUR:L SCHWARTZ; KBREISSINGER; EUR/PPD:CFITZGERALD 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR KFLU KPAO AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: U.S. SPEAKER ON AVIAN INFLUENZIA ROBERT TANAKA 
- EVALUATION 
 
REF  A) BREISSINGER-MURPHY E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE OF MARCH- APRIL 
 
2007 
 
¶1. Summary:  Embassy Baku hosted a U.S. Speaker on Avian Influenza 
(AI) Dr. Robert Tanaka June 12 - 16.  Tanaka held meetings at the 
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, State Veterinary 
Service, visited other organizations involved in health protection 
issues, and conducted a media interview.  Tanaka's program served to 
further public awareness about AI and contributed to the dialogue on 
this critical issue with government officials and other contacts. 
End summary. 
 
 
VISIT TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE 
 
¶2.  Visiting U.S. Speaker Dr. Robert Tanaka had in-depth discussions 
at the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Center for Hygiene and 
Epidemiology and the Anti-Plague Station (MOH's central laboratory) 
about the February 2007 suspected AI human cases in Azerbaijan's 
southern Salyan region.   He also discussed GOAJ measures undertaken 
to prevent influenza outbreaks in the future. MOH officials were 
particularly interested in how Asian countries dealt with AI and 
inquired about additional assistance. During the meeting with the 
Head of the International Relations Department at the Ministry of 
Agriculture (MOAG), Dr. Tanaka addressed the question of 
compensation strategies. The discussion generated a variety of 
questions about how the Ministry can work with international 
organizations in order to attend laboratory diagnostics training and 
how to improve the quality of local veterinary services. 
 
 
DISCUSSIONS AT THE AZERBAIJAN CENTER OF ORNITHOLOGY AND THE STATE 
VETERINARY SERVICE 
 
¶3. Dr. Tanaka met with the Director of the Azerbaijan Center of 
Ornithology to discuss theoretical and practical aspects of avian 
influenza as well as options for developing a national AI monitoring 
system. The interlocutors emphasized public awareness as an 
important component in preventing the pandemic given a series of 
recent suspected cases of human AI. Another meeting took place with 
the staff of the State Veterinary Service (SVS) and was focused on 
ways to increase surveillance to avoid the spread of AI in the 
country. The interlocutors raised a number of interesting questions 
about the possibility of building labs in the regions of Azerbaijan 
and development of professional training. 
 
 
DR. TANAKA MEETS WITH UNICEF 
 
¶4. Dr. Tanaka was a guest at a dinner hosted by UNICEF where he 
discussed AI related issues with UNICEF's staff. They shared their 
experiences in dealing with AI cases. 
 
 
MEDIA EVENTS 
 
¶5. Dr. Tanaka also held a media interview during which he explained 
the purpose of his visit and some of the most important aspects of 
AI. 
 
RESULT AND IMPACT 
 
¶6. Dr. Tanaka's program was very fruitful as it helped the Post in 
its efforts to maintain a productive dialogue on avian influenzia 
with government officials, to enhance public understanding of the 
seriousness of the issue, and to underline the importance of civic 
participation in AI prevention. 
 
DERSE