Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DUBLIN1367
2005-11-07 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
CORRESPONDENCE TO SECRETARY - UNESCO CULTURAL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS DUBLIN 001367
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/UBI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC ETRD PREL SCUL EI UNESCO
SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE TO SECRETARY - UNESCO CULTURAL
DIVERSITY CONVENTION
REF: STATE 189518
On November 7, Post received a letter from Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, addressed to Secretary
Rice. The original letter will be forwarded to the
Department via pouch Registry No. 1410789. Below is the
text of the letter.
BEGIN TEXT
OIFIG AN AIRE GNOTHAI EACHTRACHA
(OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS)
BAILE ATHA CLIATH 2
(DUBLIN 2)
Dr Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State,
U.S. Department of State Washington
27-October 2005
Our Ref: POL050500
Dear Secretary of State,
Thank you for your letter of 5 October 2005, in which you
outline certain concerns regarding the scope and language
of the recently-adopted UNESCO Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions.
The issues that you raise are indeed serious. Like you, I
would be very concerned if I believed that the Convention
could have a negative impact on the free flow of
information, or could be used to restrict rights
established under other agreements. We gave these
questions the most careful consideration in the course of
negotiation, as did our partners in the European Union.
Our individual and collective conclusion, which will be
set out shortly in a letter from the EU Presidency, is
that the Convention could not be used to justify the kind
of actions in question.
The text of the Convention makes it clear that the
discretion given to States to take measures to protect
and promote cultural diversity must be exercised in a
manner consistent with its provisions. In particular
also, we do not believe that the Convention could be used
to restrict or impair trade rights under international
agreements. Nor do we believe that it has any
implications for the free flow of information.
I fully share your views on the important role and work
of UNESCO and would, in this regard, be very happy to see
the close relationship between our two countries extended
into more effective cooperation between us on the UNESCO
agenda.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Dermot Ahern T.D.
Minister for Foreign Affairs
END TEXT
KENNY
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/UBI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC ETRD PREL SCUL EI UNESCO
SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE TO SECRETARY - UNESCO CULTURAL
DIVERSITY CONVENTION
REF: STATE 189518
On November 7, Post received a letter from Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, addressed to Secretary
Rice. The original letter will be forwarded to the
Department via pouch Registry No. 1410789. Below is the
text of the letter.
BEGIN TEXT
OIFIG AN AIRE GNOTHAI EACHTRACHA
(OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS)
BAILE ATHA CLIATH 2
(DUBLIN 2)
Dr Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State,
U.S. Department of State Washington
27-October 2005
Our Ref: POL050500
Dear Secretary of State,
Thank you for your letter of 5 October 2005, in which you
outline certain concerns regarding the scope and language
of the recently-adopted UNESCO Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions.
The issues that you raise are indeed serious. Like you, I
would be very concerned if I believed that the Convention
could have a negative impact on the free flow of
information, or could be used to restrict rights
established under other agreements. We gave these
questions the most careful consideration in the course of
negotiation, as did our partners in the European Union.
Our individual and collective conclusion, which will be
set out shortly in a letter from the EU Presidency, is
that the Convention could not be used to justify the kind
of actions in question.
The text of the Convention makes it clear that the
discretion given to States to take measures to protect
and promote cultural diversity must be exercised in a
manner consistent with its provisions. In particular
also, we do not believe that the Convention could be used
to restrict or impair trade rights under international
agreements. Nor do we believe that it has any
implications for the free flow of information.
I fully share your views on the important role and work
of UNESCO and would, in this regard, be very happy to see
the close relationship between our two countries extended
into more effective cooperation between us on the UNESCO
agenda.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Dermot Ahern T.D.
Minister for Foreign Affairs
END TEXT
KENNY