Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BOGOTA9001
2005-09-22 21:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

COLOMBIA IN NO HURRY TO APPROVE UNESCO CULTURAL

Tags:  SCUL ETRD CO UNESCO 
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222100Z Sep 05
UNCLAS BOGOTA 009001 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNESCO JANE COWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL ETRD CO UNESCO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA IN NO HURRY TO APPROVE UNESCO CULTURAL
CONVENTION

REF: STATE 170909

UNCLAS BOGOTA 009001

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNESCO JANE COWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL ETRD CO UNESCO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA IN NO HURRY TO APPROVE UNESCO CULTURAL
CONVENTION

REF: STATE 170909


1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to newly-arrived
Colombian Coordinator for UNESCO in MFA's Multilateral
Affairs office, Ambassador Carlos Gamba, on September 22.
Poloff stressed U.S. concerns regarding the draft
Convention's potential for misinterpretation and encouraged
the GOC to work with others to create a true consensus draft.
Poloff also emphasized that there should be no hurry to
approve the draft Convention during the three-week UNESCO
General Conference in October.


2. (U) According to Gamba, who took up his post two weeks
ago, the GOC is in favor of the Convention, but is in no
hurry to act on it in October. Gamba said the GOC's goal was
to sign the Convention within the next two years. He agreed
that there was still much negotiating to be done, but was
hopeful that consensus could be reached during the General
Conference. Gamba said that his office, working with the
Ministry of Culture, would write the instructions for the
Colombian Mission to UNESCO. He plans to participate in the
General Conference as well. Gamba asked for any specific
alternative language the U.S. proposes.


3. (SBU) Comment: While Gamba agreed that adopting the
Convention in October would be premature, he did not share
U.S. concerns. He claimed that there was little chance that
any Latin American government would use the Convention to
limit free expression or access to information. Foreign
Minister Barco and Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs
Giron are in New York for the UNGA and will return to Bogota
over the weekend. End Comment.
WOOD