URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY

UNCLAS MANAMA 001454

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS US/UNESCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD OPDC PREL SCUL PHUM BA UNESCO
SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY

REF: A. STATE 184292 B. MANAMA 1370


1. (U) In the absence of Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Al
Khalifa, who was out of the country, Ambassador on October 8
passed ref a letter from Secretary Rice to MFA Assistant
Undersecetary Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, who promised to
pass the letter to the Minister upon his return. Shaikh
Abdul Aziz expressed his personal view that, given the
difference of opinions on the issue, it made sense to defer
any decision.


2. (U) The Ambassador took advantage of a Ramadan call on the
evening of October 8 on Minister of Education Majid Al
Noaimi, who has prime responsibility for UNESCO matters, to
press the issue further. Al Noaimi asked for a copy of the
letter from Secretary Rice, and said he would discuss the
issue with the Foreign Minister. He expressed sympathy with
the USG position, urging that we lobby harder with other
countries (the Ambassador stated that we were doing just
that).


3. The Ambassador also passed on October 5 a letter from USTR
Portman to Minister of Industry and Commerce Hassan Fakhro on
the UNESCO issue.
MONROE