Cablegate: Avian Flu Conference in Egypt: Canada Will Attend, But

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TAGS: KFLU AORC TBIO EAGR EAID PREL CA
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU CONFERENCE IN EGYPT: CANADA WILL ATTEND, BUT
MINISTER UNLIKELY

REF: STATE 92335

Canadian officials will attend the Ministerial Conference on Avian
and Pandemic Influenza hosted by Egypt on October 24 - 25. Bersabel
Ephrem, Director General for International Affairs at Health Canada,
and William Horne from the Secretariat for the Pandemic Influenza
Preparedness Committee at the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade will represent Canada. A representative from the
Canadian International Development Agency may also participate.
According to Horne, Minister of Health Tony Clement, had planned to
attend, but the Canadian federal election (with voting on October
14) has put that in doubt, at least until election results are in.
Canada is still investigating the possibility of a pledge, although
the election also makes it difficult to predict its likelihood.

Wilkins

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