Regional Conference on Avian Influenza Scheduled for February 23-25 in Ho Chi Minh City

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Animal Health Organisation are jointly hosting a regional conference on avian influenza in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on February 23-25. This meeting aims to bring together experts and representatives from international organisations to discuss the current state of avian flu and potential strategies for combating the disease. The international community has expressed concerns about the potential for avian flu to spark a global human influenza pandemic, prompting calls for increased action to address the issue. Meanwhile, other regional developments include the EU's adoption of a bilateral fisheries deal with Madagascar and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) efforts to join the European Union as a full candidate country.

Key Takeaways:

  • A regional conference on avian influenza will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from February 23-25, jointly organised by the FAO and the World Animal Health Organisation.
  • The international community has expressed concerns about the potential for avian flu to spark a global human influenza pandemic.
  • The EU has adopted a bilateral fisheries deal with Madagascar, allowing European ships to fish in the island's waters in exchange for €825,000 per year.
  • FYROM has signed a cooperation agreement with the Belgo-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce for countries from south-east Europe, and aims to become a full candidate country for the European Union by the end of the year.
  • FYROM's Prime Minister, Vlado Buckovski, visited Brussels to hand over his country's accession questionnaire to the President of the Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
  • The conference will bring together experts and representatives from international organisations to discuss the current state of avian flu and potential strategies for combating the disease.

Statistics:

  • €825,000: the yearly compensation the EU plans to pay to Madagascar for allowing its ships to fish in the island's waters.
  • 2-25 February: the dates of the regional conference on avian influenza in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  • 17 February: the date on which the EU adopted the bilateral fisheries deal with Madagascar.
  • 15 February: the date on which FYROM signed the cooperation agreement with the Belgo-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.

Sources:

  • FAO [no date provided]
  • "EU adopts agreement allowing EU ships to fish in Madagascar" EurActiv, 17 February [no link]
  • "FYROM signs agreement with Belgo-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce" FYROM Government, 15 February [no link]
  • "Regional conference on avian influenza scheduled for Ho Chi Minh City" Viet Nam News, 18 February [no link]