(C) USUNESCO: CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006709 SIPDIS FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2015 TAGS: SCUL ETRD EU UNESCO SUBJECT: (C) USUNESCO: CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION, EU TIGHTENS THE SCREWS ON ISRAEL Ref: a) Paris 6376 (notal),b) Paris 6547 (notal) ¶1. (C) Classified by Andrew C. Koss, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Mission to UNESCO in Paris, reason 1.4 (b and (d). ¶2. (C) The EU group at UNESCO has decided to play hardball with Israel on the cultural diversity convention. ¶3. (C) As reported reftels, the French have been putting strong pressure on Israel to withdraw its support for the US position on the UNESCO cultural diversity convention. First the French ambassador to UNESCO told the new Israeli ambassador that France would not support Israel for the World Heritage Committee as long as Israel supported the US on the convention (ref a). This message was reinforced by the French culture minister in a subsequent meeting with Kornbluth(ref b). ¶4. (C) Now Kornbluth reports that an EU official, during a meeting at the foreign ministry, made not so veiled threats that if Israel continues to support the US position on the convention, none of the 25 EU countries will support Israel's bid for the World Heritage Committee. Kornbluth has made it clear that Israel will resist this intimidation and stick with the US. For now, though, he will not answer the Europeans because he wants to see what else they will "offer." ¶5. (C) Comment. Israel has stuck its neck out to support us and needs to be thanked. One way to do this would be to commit to support them for their World Heritage Committee run. As for the EU, we are reminded of the adage, "With friends like these..." OLIVER