DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNESCO: ANNOUNCEMENT OF U.S.

UNCLAS ANKARA 001625

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC FR TU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNESCO: ANNOUNCEMENT OF U.S.
RE-ENTRY AND CANDIDACY FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD

REF: A) SECSTATE 54900 B) ANKARA 7265



1. Poloffs delivered ref (A) demarche March 13 to MFA Head
of Department for Multilateral Cultural Affairs, Gulseren
Celik. Celik expressed appreciation for USG's impending
re-entry to UNESCO. She stated GOT will give due
consideration to Turkish support of USG candidacy to UNESCO
Executive Board. GOT will notify us at a later date
regarding its preferences for the October 10, 2003, election
of the executive board.



2. Celik also highlighted upcoming Turkish candidacies and
requested USG support. Per ref (B),GOT is competing for
membership to the Intergovernmental Committee for the
Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage at the
elections to be held during the October 2003 fourteenth
session of the General Assembly on Protection of World
Cultural and Natural Heritage. Turkey will also run for the
executive boards of the following committees for UNESCO:
International Bioethics Committee (IBC),International
Hydrological Program (IHP),and Intergovernmental Committee
for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its
Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit
Appropriation. GOT plans to provide information concerning
GOT UNESCO candidacies in upcoming months.
PEARSON