CANADA TO PURSUE UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD SEAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000702

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR UNESCO OBSERVER; MARSEILLES FOR MONACO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2013
TAGS: AORC CA UNESCO
SUBJECT: CANADA TO PURSUE UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD SEAT

REF: A. STATE 61697


B. STATE 54900

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Mary Witt for reasons 1.5(b)
and (d).


1. (C) Embassy presented the talking points contained reftel
A concerning the U.S. candidacy for election to the UNESCO
executive board to Jean-Luc Chouinard, Special Advisor for
UNESCO in the UN Specialized Agencies Section of DFAIT's
International Organizations Bureau, on March 11. Poloff had
a follow-up discussion with Chouinard on March 13. Chouinard
said that Canada welcomes the U.S.'s return to UNESCO.

2. (C) Chouinard indicated Canada will be a candidate for a
seat on the UNESCO executive board. He said Canada would
like our support for its candidacy, and will seriously
consider giving its support to our candidacy. Chouinard said
there are a possible 10 candidates for the 5 open Group 1
seats on the executive board. He identified those candidates
as France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal,
Switzerland, Denmark, the U.S., and Canada. When asked about
the possibility of Canada supporting a consensus slate of
candidates, Chouinard responded that experience has shown
them that such slates aren't successful in UNESCO executive
board elections. Chouinard said the culture of UNESCO isn't
conducive to slates of candidates; in that sense, he noted,
UNESCO differs from other UN organizations.

3. (C) Chouinard shares our concern that a better balance
needs to be established in Group 1 board representation
between EU and non-E.U. states. He feels this will be hard to
do in the near term, but in the longer term we should work on
getting the Group 1 states to agree on a different, more
balanced approach to filling seats. Chouinard is hopeful
there will be a place for both the U.S. and Canada on the
executive board, as he thinks we could do a lot of useful
things if we are serving together. Comment: It is our
impression from the discussion with Chouinard that Canada
might agree to join a consensus slate, or to back a consensus
slate, after other possible members of the slate have been
identified. End comment.
CELLUCCI