DEMARCHE DELIVERED: USG CANDIDACY FOR SEAT ON

UNCLAS PARIS 004802

SIPDIS

IO/T-COWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL FR UNESCO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: USG CANDIDACY FOR SEAT ON
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

REF: STATE 122739


1. Post delivered a Diplomatic Note to the MFA July 6 per
reftel instructions. Poloff provided a copy July 7 to MFA IO
cultural heritage action officer Claude Gerard.


2. Gerard told us July 8 that France had no objection to the
U.S. candidacy, and would adhere to the usual principle of
mutual support among P-5 countries. However, he said, the
GoF would be interested in further information on the USG
concept of its role on the Committee, and how we saw the
Committee functioning. In short, what does the USG plan to
accomplish, particularly within the context of the 1972
administrative convention? Gerard said that there was an
"inequality" on the Committee, with some members having 25 or
more natural and cultural treasures, while others had none.
The U.S., he offered, was "somewhere in the middle."


3. Gerard said that, in addition to being host country,
France was on the Executive Council. While there was no
rule, written or unwritten regarding membership on both the
Council and the Committee, France felt it would be difficult,
as a member of the Council, to seek membership of the
Committee, and had no plans to do so. Gerard noted that the
UK was a member of both the Executive Council and the
Committee, and that the GoF decision not to seek membership
of the Committee would not preclude French support for the
USG candidacy.
STAPLETON