BAHRAIN: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL

UNCLAS MANAMA 001530 SIPDIS SENSITIVE PARIS FOR USDEL UNESCO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PHUM SCUL BA UNESCO SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY VOTE REF: A. STATE 192656 ¶B. MANAMA 1502 ¶C. MANAMA 1454 ¶D. MANAMA 1370 Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ chief October 19 delivered Ref A urgent demarche on the UNESCO cultural diversity convention vote to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Shaikho said his office was currently in the midst of contacts with the Bahraini mission in Paris and GCC and Arab delegations concerning the vote. Bahrain had not yet decided how it was going to vote. He welcomed the concept of expressing Bahrain's concerns about the possible impact of the convention on international trade and the free flow of information in Bahrain's explanation of vote, to be issued either before or after the vote. ¶2. (SBU) Shaikho emphasized that Bahrain shares the United States' concerns about possible UNESCO interference in trade issues. According to his information, the United States viewed the matter as a trade issue whereas the other side viewed it as a response to globalization and the protection of local cultures. He thought the U.S. was at a disadvantage because it had entered the debate only after the draft text of the convention had been issued. He thought there might be some "constructive ambiguity" in the text of the convention that could work either for or against the U.S. position, depending upon the interpretation of those charged with implementing it. MONROE