Ambassador's remarks
USAID Grant Agreement Signing
Remarks by Ambassador Ross Wilson at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ankara
November 7, 2006
AMBASSADOR WILSON: Good afternoon. Mr. Minister, thank you very much. We all recall the dramatic days last January when Turkey, and then later other parts of Europe were hit with the Avian Influenza. Turkey’s response was strong, quick and transparent, and there was excellent cooperation with Turkey’s neighbors and its international partners. As the Minister noted, this Ministry carried out extraordinary efforts including very widespread culling of poultry herds all over the country. And I should add that the work by the Turkish Ministry of Health was equally extraordinary.
I was particularly grateful for Turkey’s support of American experts who visited this country in January to assess the Avian Influenza problem and national response here, in the Caucasus, and in Ukraine. And as a direct result of Turkey’s successful response last January the Turkish authorities, World Bank, and other international donors and agencies developed a comprehensive assistance program designed to further strengthen Turkey’s capability to address the problems of Avian Influenza and other potential pandemics.
In addition to our support of the World Bank as its largest donor, the United States is also proud to be a direct contributor to this program. The United States Agency for International Development will provide $1,000,000 to support Turkish efforts to restructure the backyard poultry industry in rural areas of this country. Rural farmers were hit hard last January. This grant will help to protect them against a similar danger and against similar vulnerabilities in the future. In addition, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing $325,000 to help develop and enhance the capabilities of Turkey’s laboratories that monitor and test for serious infectious diseases like Avian Influenza.
These funds along with the World Bank’s efforts are part of a broader international partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza that was proposed by President Bush last year. Ninety-three nations including Turkey have joined this international effort. US contributions to it total $392,000,000. We all know that the Avian Influenza remains a global threat, that could very likely reappear in any of our countries at any time. I’m pleased and proud that this is another area where the United States and Turkey are working together. Let me express my gratitude to Minister Eker, and of course also to his counterpart, Minister for Health Mr. Akdag.
Thank you.
AMBASSADOR WILSON (in response to a question about the funds): …specifically about how this funding breaks down among different recipients. A considerable amount of it is channeled through the World Bank, through the FAO, through the WHO, and other international organizations. If we have other details perhaps you could follow up with our press people here and we’ll try to make available what we have.
AMBASSADOR WILSON (in response to a question about the US team in the Caucasus): Human to human transition or transfer was not a specific reason why our experts went to the Caucasus and Ukraine last January. They went to gather information about and to assess reports that there were outbreaks of Avian Flu in various parts of the Caucasus and all three countries of the Caucasus, as well as in Ukraine and frankly in other places. And the visit I think into the region produced two results…at least two results. One is similar assistance at least to several of these governments -- similar to what we are providing to Turkey. And second, a conclusion that the countries of the region needed to cooperate and share information more effectively. Turkey hosted a meeting of countries throughout the region, not just the Caucasus, I believe in February or March, to share information, share experiences and learn from one another. It was very important.