UNESCO: OCTOBER 2005 WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

UNCLAS PARIS 004722

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
SENSITIVE
STATE PLS PASS NPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SENV PGOV CJAN CA UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO: OCTOBER 2005 WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
ELECTIONS: CANADA DECIDES TO RUN


1. (SBU) The Canadian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO,
Ambassador Yvon Charbonneau, informed Ambassador Oliver 6
July that Canada intends to run in the October 2005
elections for a four-year term to the World Heritage
Committee (WHC),which sets policy for the World Heritage
Convention, UNESCO's flagship Convention.


2. (SBU) This will complicate the USG bid, as there is
reportedly a tradition of limiting North American membership
on the twenty-one-nation WHC to either Canada or the USA.
(Note. The World Heritage Convention has been ratified by
179 nations. Although the Convention itself does not set
out a formula for geographic representation on the WHC, a
tradition for certain amount of geographic representation
has arisen - End note).


3. (SBU) Canada's decision hinges on its wish that Quebec
City host the 2008 World Heritage Committee meeting, which
coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of
Quebec City. As Charbonneau explained, the decision was
taken to mollify Quebec nationalists and build Liberal Party
support in the province. According to a longstanding
interpretation of World Heritage Committee rules, only
Committee members may host the meetings of the World
Heritage Center. Because of timing mechanics, only nations
that are elected to the WHC in October 2005 may, under the
current tradition and rules, offer to host the WHC meeting
in 2008.


4. (SBU) Comment. With increasing technical and security
requirements, hosting a WHC meeting is something only a
relatively few nations have the capability to do.
Certainly, many WHC members, especially developing
countries, do not have the wherewithal to host a WHC
meeting. It seems time to introduce the idea that the WHC
traditions and rules be changed so that the WHC meeting
could be hosted by a city that is not within one of the WHC
members. End Comment.

OLIVER