Asian ministers agree to fight bird flu
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 21:54

The regional framework dovetails with a three-year plan drafted by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health or OIE and World Health Organization in May, to be presented to international donors in December for implementation early next year.

"What we hope to do at the (regional) task force level is to supplement what is going on, what is being done by each individual country and to work with FAO, OIE and WHO," Singapore's Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan told a joint press conference Friday.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Wilfrido Villacorta said given the gravity of the problem "we are confident that we shall continue to have the support of our dialogue partners."

The ASEAN animal health trust fund formally established during the meeting "gives the signal to potential donors that ASEAN member countries are serious about eradicating the avian flu as well as other diseases that are facing the region," he added.

Two million dollars have been pledged for the fund, which is separate from a regional fund for bird flu that ASEAN hopes to have, officials said.

"It's important that we have the political commitment of the region so we can effectively invite the donors to back the program (on bird flu)," said Subhash Mozaria, FAO chief technical adviser said in a presentation Thursday before ASEAN agriculture ministers.