BRAZIL: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002772 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD OPDC UN SUBJECT: BRAZIL: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION REF: A) STATE 189518, B) STATE 184292 ¶1. On October 14 post forwarded (Ref A) correspondence from Secretary Rice, under cover of a letter from the Ambassador, SIPDIS to Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. To date, we have not received a response from the GOB. Similarly, on October 17 post forwarded Ref B letter from Secretary Gutierrez, under cover of a letter from Ambassador Danilovich, to Development, Industry and Trade (MDIC) Minister Luis Furlan. Again, to date, we have not received a response from the Brazilian government to this second letter. ¶2. Mission FCS officers have raised the matter of the UNESCO Cultural Diversity Convention with business counterparts in both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In general, our private sector interlocutors have pled ignorance of this issue and directed us to either the Ministry of Culture or MDIC. Notwithstanding our efforts, the UNESCO Convention remains a low-profile issue within Brazil. DANILOVICH