Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS5116
2005-07-22 17:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

USUNESCO: MEETING ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH UK

Tags:  SCUL UK EU UNESCO 
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UNCLAS PARIS 005116 

SIPDIS

USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

STATE FOR IO/T, L/UNA, EB, EUR/ERA

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL UK EU UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: MEETING ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH UK
AMBASSADOR AND EU OBSERVER

UNCLAS PARIS 005116

SIPDIS

USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

STATE FOR IO/T, L/UNA, EB, EUR/ERA

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL UK EU UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: MEETING ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH UK
AMBASSADOR AND EU OBSERVER


1. UK ambassador to UNESCO (and EU president) Tim Craddock
and Michel Vanden Abeele, the head of the EC observer
mission, requested a meeting with Ambassador Oliver on July

22. Craddock came with a message that 99 percent of the EU
countries' agenda at UNESCO, especially in areas like
education and science, is the same as that of the US. He
also expressed hope that the divergence of views on the
cultural diversity convention would not have repercussions.
He added that despite a wide range of national positions
among EU countries, all EU members have examined the draft
convention and found it acceptable. (Note: actually two
central European countries have told us they hate the
convention but their hands are tied). The EU does not want
the convention reopened and expects it to be adopted at the
General Conference in October


2. In response to a question about Washington's reaction,
Ambassador Oliver told Craddock that Washington was
concerned by the tone of the last negotiation. She pointed
out that the US went out of its way to be collegial but
collegiality and a search for consensus were totally lacking
during the last negotiating session. Ambassador Oliver also
indicated that she did not know yet to what degree this will
affect our re-engagement with UNESCO. When Craddock
remarked that the situation was not good, she responded that
it is serious.


3. Craddock suggested that Department lawyers speak to
lawyers from EU members states and from the Commission so
that we can better understand why the EU members can live
with the draft. He emphasized that this would not be a
negotiation, simply an exchange of views, because the member
states did not want to reopen the convention.


4. Craddock also said something that was interesting. He
said, "One international organization does not have a remit
for everything in trade. It does not matter if there's
overlap (of competencies) in such a broad convention."
(Comment: We are really surprised that Craddock took such a
casual view of WTO competencies and about the disturbing
tendency for UNESCO to insert itself in the areas of
competency of other international organizations.) Craddock
also mentioned that the EU were quite pleased that the
convention would funnel more assistance to Africa, though he
did not have an answer when we asked him how it would help
Africa. (Note: in a conversation the previous day an
African delegate told the DCM that Africa got nothing out of
the convention; the only winners were "northern" countries.)


5. Comment. Craddock and the EC observer were quick to try
to put some of the blame for the outcome of the negotiations
on the US, but we pointed out that neither had spent much
time in the room and knew how hostile things really were.
While we do not think that the EU countries are going to
back down, we take this meeting as a sign that they are
worried that they may have pushed the US too far. They are
also anxious to continue working with the US on the
important parts of UNESCO's agenda, such as education.
Since the EU does not want to reopen negotiations, we are
wary about holding consultations on the draft convention.
Still, in the unlikely event, the EU could be budged, we
would suggest a meeting of lawyers, including Geneva Legal
Adviser Peay, here in Paris. We know that Japan would also
be interested in attending such a meeting.

OLIVER