Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS6709
2005-09-29 17:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

(C) USUNESCO: CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION,

Tags:  SCUL ETRD EU UNESCO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

291716Z Sep 05
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)

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