Date: 8 February2011
Source: www.keionline.org
Link: http://keionline.org/node/1075
WikiLeaks passed on to the UK newspaper, The
Telegraph, a cable dated 1 November 2007 from US Embassy in
London entitled "UK AGREES WITH US APPROACH TO UPCOMING WHO INTERGOVERNMENTALWORKING
GROUP ON PUBLIC HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND IP [1]" signed off with the
name "LEBARON". The cable in full can be read on theTelegraph
website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/london-wikileaks/8304928
... [1].
The cable describes a meeting that took place in London on 25-26 October
2007 between USTR functionary Chris Wilson and Will Niblett of the UK
Department of Health and Andrew Jenner of the UK Intellectual Property
Office (IPO); now Mr. Niblett is with DFID and Mr. Jenner is Director of
Trade and Intellectual Property at The International Federation of
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) [2]. The cable noted
that these two delegates from UK Department of Health and the UK IPO held
the view that "WHO should not assume any role in determining
international agreements on intellectual property.
In particular, the WHO should have no decision making role regarding patents
on medicines. UK DH and UK IPO also agree that the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) is the proper organization for IP related issues. UK
DH wants the WHO`s emphasis to remain on public health and not become
involved with tangential issues".
The cable did note that the third member of the UK delegation to the WHO
IGWG meeting in November 2007, Charles Clift (DFID) "might have differing
views". According to the cable, Niblett and Jenner "made clear
that there may be limits in the degree to which the UK delegation to the
IGWG will vocally defend U.S. positions on issues such as TRIPS-plus provisions
in trade agreements".
The cable states that `Niblett said that his
delegation is "very keen" to work with the US and that the UK
broadly agrees with the US position` by endeavoring to steer the IGWG away
from patent issues towards public health matters. The cable concludes,
"Jenner says that NGO`s generally side with the developing world on
IP issues and believe patents hinder developing countries` access to
medicines. Oxfam and Doctors without Borders are particularly following
this issue. Jenner stated that DFID tends to be more supportive of
the developing world at these conferences. Although DFID only
compromises one-third of the UK delegation, Clift is well-known at the WHO
and has much experience at IGWG`s. It is unclear how much influence he
will be able exert over the two other members of his delegation".
Below is the cable in its entirety.
"UK AGREES WITH US APPROACH TO UPCOMING WHO INTERGOVERNMENTAL
WORKING
GROUP ON PUBLIC HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND IP
Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks 9:04PM GMT 04 Feb 2011
Ref ID: 07LONDON4102
Date: 11/1/2007 11:45
Origin: Embassy London
UNCLAS LONDON 004102 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR E.O.
12598: N/A TAGS: ECPS, ETRD, ECON, UK SUBJECT: UK AGREES WITH US APPROACH
TO UPCOMING WHO INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON PUBLIC HEALTH,
INNOVATION, AND IP REF State 144926 SUMMARY: UK delegates from HMG
Department of Health (UK DH) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK
IPO) agree broadly with the US on the upcoming World Health Organization
(WHO) intergovernmental working group (IGWG) on public health, innovation,
and intellectual property. Both UK DH and UK IPO state that the WHO should
not assume any role in determining international agreements on intellectual
property. In particular, the WHO should have no decision making role
regarding patents on medicines. UK DH and UK IPO also agree that the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the proper organization for
IP related issues. UK DH wants the WHO`s emphasis to remain on public
health and not become involved with tangential issues. However, the third
member of the UK`s delegation, the Department for International
Development, might have differing views. Both officials made clear that
there may be limits in the degree to which the UK delegation to the IGWG
will vocally defend U.S. positions on issues such as TRIPS-plus
provisions in trade agreements. END SUMMARY
2.(U) USTR representative, Chris Wilson, met with Will Niblett of UK DH
and Andrew Jenner of UK IPO during a trip to London on October 25 and 26,
2007. Niblett and Jenner comprise two-thirds of the UK`s delegation to the
November 5-10, 2007 IGWG. The third member of the UK delegation will be
Charles Clift from the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Wilson briefed Niblett and Jenner on the US position on the upcoming IGWG.
3.(SBU) Niblett said that his delegation is "very keen" to work
with the US and that the UK broadly agrees with the US position. UK DH
is the lead UK agency at the conference. Niblett said that he hopes
to steer the meetings always from patent issues, because the WHO`s emphasis
should be on public health and not intellectual property. His priority
will be to keep the conference on track, because the agenda is too
far-reaching and broad. Jenner`s statements broadly matched those of
Niblett. Jenner added that although public awareness of this issue is
generally low, NGO`s in the UK are very aware of the issue. Jenner says
that NGO`s generally side with the developing world on IP issues and
believe patents hinder developing countries` access to medicines. Oxfam
and Doctors without Borders are particularly following this issue. Jenner
stated that DFID tends to be more supportive of the developing world at
these conferences. Although DFID only compromises one-third of the UK delegation,
Clift is well-known at the WHO and has much experience at IGWG`s. It is
unclear how much influence he will be able exert over the two other
members of his delegation. LEBARON"
Links:[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/london-wikileaks/8304928/UK-AGREES-WITH-US-APPROACH-TO-UPCOMING-WHO-INTERGOVERNMENTAL-WORKING-GROUP-ON-PUBLIC-HEALTH-INNOVATION-AND-IP.html
[2] http://www.ifpma.org/News/NewsReleaseDetail.aspx?nID=13296
Keywords: Wikileaks / US /UK / IGWG / Cable
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