DEMARCHE ON TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF UNESCO DRAFT

UNCLAS AMMAN 009146

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA/MST - A. WHITTEN
STATE ALSO FOR IO/T - J. COWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON JO WTO UNESCO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF UNESCO DRAFT
CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION: JORDAN

REF: STATE 238056


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Emboffs November 10 delivered reftel
demarche to key contacts in the Ministry of Industry and
Trade and to the International Organizations Department in
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To the extent that Jordan
engages in the UNESCO process, we can expect a sympathetic
response from the Government of Jordan. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) At the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) the
deputy of the trade policy department and the WTO legal
advisor reviewed the three main points of reftel demarche,
noting their ready understanding that the specified draft
articles and phrases in the UNESCO convention could be in
conflict with or cloud obligations made by Jordan under the
WTO and the U.S.-Jordan FTA.


3. (SBU) The trade policy deputy stated that Jordan fully
understands the U.S. concerns and would study the demarche
further the same day so as to formulate a final position. He
indicated that the Ministry of Trade would seek quickly to
have the government's position communicated to Jordan's
embassy in Paris. (NOTE: Jordan will celebrate the end of
Ramadan this weekend through November 16. Any action from
the capital to submit comments to UNESCO by November 15 would
have to come by Thursday, the last workday of the week before
the long holiday. END NOTE.) Embassy also forwarded the
demarche to the MFA International Organizations Department,
and encouraged consultation among the MFA, MOIT, and the
Ministry of Culture.
HALE