URGENT DEMARCHES ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003091 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CA ETRD PREL SCUL SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHES ON UNESCO CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 184292 ¶B. (B) SECSTATE 189518 (SBU) AMBASSADOR MADE REFTEL (A) DEMARCHE TO FOREIGN MINISTER PETTIGREW ON OCTOBER 7 AND POST PASSED IT AS WELL TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE. POST PASSED SECRETARY GUTIERREZ'S LETTER ON OCTOBER 13 TO INDUSTRY MINISTER EMERSON (REFTEL (B)). WE ALSO PASSED THE TEXT OF USTR PORTMAN'S LETTER TO TRADE MINISTER PETERSON, TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA AND TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED FORMAL RESPONSES TO ANY OF THESE LETTERS, ALTHOUGH THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HAS PROMISED A RESPONSE. BUT GIVEN THE PRE-ELECTION CLIMATE AND HERITAGE MINISTER FRULLA'S RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS, WE DO NOT EXPECT MOVEMENT FROM THE CANADIANS. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS