Cablegate: Russia Moving Forward with Implementation of International

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DE RUEHMO #1342 1351346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141346Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8068
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001342

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHB AND IO/T

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AORC PREL WHO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL
HEALTH REGULATIONS

REF: STATE 33263

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

1. (SBU) Per reftel request, we discussed Russia's progress in
implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR) with Deputy
Director Oleg Chestnov of the Health and Social Development
Ministry's International Department, and with Aleksandr Kucherenko,
head of the International Department at the Federal Surveillance
Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being
(Rospotrebnadzor). Chestnov welcomed the checklist of steps that
the USG would be taking to implement the IHR in the United States.

2. (SBU) Chestnov and Kucherenko confirmed that Rospotrebnadzor
would be responsible for Russia's IHR implementation. Chief Medical
Officer and Rospotrebnadzor Head Gennadiy Onishchenko issued a
decree in May 2007 tasking Rospotrebnadzor with managing Russia's
IHR implementation, including coordination with other Russian
ministries and agencies that would be affected by the IHR, such as
customs, law enforcement and border control services.
Rospotrebnadzor is in the process of developing guidelines for the
IHR's implementation. Kucherenko stated that Rospotrebnadzor has
conducted five meetings with health officials from Russia's regions
and from other CIS countries regarding Russia's implementation,
including three meetings in which representatives from the World
Health Organization's (WHO) European Office participated. Officials
from Rospotrebnadzor also will participate in a WHO-sponsored
meeting on the IHR in Hamburg, Germany May 26-28.

RUSSELL

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