Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS3348
2005-05-17 09:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

USUNESCO: EU members prepare for next round of

Tags:  SCUL ETRD WTRO UNESCO 
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UNCLAS PARIS 003348 

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL ETRD WTRO UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: EU members prepare for next round of
cultural diversity talks

UNCLAS PARIS 003348

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL ETRD WTRO UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: EU members prepare for next round of
cultural diversity talks


1. (SBU) The EU member states of UNESCO held a policy
coordination meeting May 12-13 to prepare for the next round
of negotiations on the cultural diversity convention.
According to Christine Atkinson, deputy in the UK Mission,
(protect),most EU Member states accept the chairman's new
revised text. The Finns were the only state to have shown
some reticence, as they seem to favor the work accomplished
by the (Finnish) drafting group chair. Most EU states
agreed to place an emphasis on the development and poverty
reduction aspects of the draft convention.


2. (SBU) ACCORDING TO ATKINSON, THE FRENCH DELEGATION WAS
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY EASY GOING. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE
MEETING WITHOUT THE QUAI OFFICIAL WHO HANDLES THIS ACCOUNT
AND WHO USUALLY TAKES STRONG POSITIONS. THE FRENCH
DELEGATION EVEN CEDED SOME POINTS TO THE BRITISH INCLUDING
FLEXIBILITY ON THE USE OF "MAY" OR "SHOULD" IN THE JOINT EU
STATEMENT. ATKINSON INDICATED THAT SHE FELT THE FRENCH WERE
BEING MORE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO PUSH THIS
CONVENTION THROUGH AT ALL COSTS AND DO NOT WANT TO POLARIZE
THE DEBATE IN THE EU. SHE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE EC AND
THE EU PRESIDENCY (LUXEMBOURG) WOULD SPEAK AT THE CD
NEGOTIATIONS--NOT ALL 25 MEMBERS PLUS THE EC.


3. (SBU) ATKINSON ALSO CITED HER AMBASSADOR'S INTERVENTION
AT THE MEETING ON THE UK'S DESIRE NOT TO CREATE TRADE
BARRIERS: "THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A POSITION OF OURS BUT THE
LESSONS OF THE PAST 300 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE." THIS
POSITION WAS APPARENTLY ALSO SUPPORTED BY DENMARK.


4. (SBU) Finally Atkinson indicated that the UK delegation
would include their Geneva WTO trade expert David Cairns.
She expressed a desire to have trade experts attending the
negotiations meet the day prior to the beginning of the CD
meetings. She also indicated that the Commonwealth
countries have a meeting on Monday 23rd and the Francophonie
countries on Tuesday the 24th.

OLIVER