UNESCO: Ambassador meets with DG to review US-

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 008456

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FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS FOR IO/UNESCO DOUGLAS ROHN, IO/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/06: 1.4
TAGS: AORC SCUL SKI UNESCO FR
SUBJECT: UNESCO: Ambassador meets with DG to review US-
UNESCO ties in wake of adoption of cultural diversity
convention, presses for increased US staff

REFTELTEL: Paris 7446


1. Summary: The Ambassador's December 6 meeting with UNESCO
DG Matsuura focused primarily on three topics: U.S.
engagement with UNESCO in the wake of UNESCO's adoption in
October of the cultural diversity convention; the importance
of increasing the number of U.S. staff at UNESCO and
including an American on the panel that will review UNESCO's
science programs (REFTEL); and the need for improved
handling of U.S. extra-budgetary contributions to UNESCO.
End Summary.

Continued U.S. Engagement with UNESCO


2. The Ambassador opened the meeting by informing the DG
that the atmosphere in Washington regarding UNESCO is very
negative, and that Washington continues to be quite unhappy
with both the substance of the Cultural Diversity convention
and the process by which it was adopted at the October 2005
General Conference. Many in Washington are questioning
whether the U.S. should stay involved with UNESCO. The
Ambassador stressed serious USG concerns regarding follow-up
meetings on cultural diversity that are taking place in
various countries; she noted that many of the meetings are
not UNESCO meetings per se. Cultural diversity has become a
new intellectual force in the international arena, the
Ambassador observed; we are already seeing many references
to it at UNGA. The Ambassador reminded the DG of his pledge
to intervene publicly to stop the misuse of the convention
if that occurs. (Comment: We must follow closely UNESCO's
involvement with these regional and national meetings. End
Comment).


3. The Ambassador told the DG that Washington is willing,
for the moment, to maintain an active U.S. engagement with
UNESCO. However, she cautioned, the situation is very
delicate. Further objectionable developments at UNESCO
would make it difficult, if not impossible, to explain to
Congress why we should stay involved with UNESCO. The DG
responded that he understood perfectly and was pleased that
we would be able to continue to work together. He added
that U.S. involvement on Israeli-Palestinian issues at
UNESCO was particularly critical, and that UNESCO could not
have made the progress it has without the U.S. He mentioned
that the new Palestinian representative has arrived and is
hopeful that we will be able to continue the success that
UNESCO has had in that area for the past two years.

Personnel Issues: More American, Please


4. Regarding staff positions at the UNESCO secretariat, the
Ambassador and the DG discussed six key slots:


5. Assistant Director General, Culture Sector: The DG told
the Ambassador that he had agreed with the suggestion that
current Assistant Director General for Culture Bouchenaki
stay for another year, and had tried to persuade him to do
that. Bouchenaki was unable to do so because of pressure
from ICROM, where he will be the new director, but agreed to
stay until this end of February and to help choose a new
Culture ADG.


6. The Ambassador expressed deep concern at rumors that
Francoise Riviere (Assistant Director General in the
Director General's Office) is one the leading candidates for
the ADG's job. The Ambassador stressed that Riviere
represents an over-represented country (France); in
addition, given the serious issues relating to the Cultural
Diversity convention, the U.S. would be unable to support
any candidate that came from a country that was one of the
main proponents of the convention. For similar reasons, the
U.S. would also have concerns with any other internal
candidate. The Ambassador emphasized the fact that, given
the area of responsibility of the ADG for Culture, the U.S.
would be watching the recruitment of that position very
closely. A decision on that position that posed problems
for the U.S. might have a very negative impact on U.S.
engagement with UNESCO. The Ambassador also probed the DG
on his plans for the Deputy position in the Culture Sector,
and whether he would wait until choosing a new ADG before
filling that position. The Ambassador concluded by noting
reports that a French national is currently in the process
of drafting a major report on cultural diversity similar to
the recently released UNESCO "knowledge societies" report,
stressing that we view that as a potential cause of concern
as well.


7. The DG responded that Riviere is not the French
government's candidate, and that the French government might
actually want her to go elsewhere. (Comment: Two seemingly
contradictory statements. End comment.) The DG also
reported that the French ambassador had been in to see him
to complain that the number of high-level French nationals
at UNESCO is declining. The Ambassador responded that a
French national had just been elected as UNESCO's new
external auditor. Regarding the Deputy ADG for Culture
slot, the DG told the Ambassador that since Arts and Culture
Enterprises Division Director is leaving, there is no one
who could serve as Acting ADG. Although this job has not
yet been advertised, he indicated that it might be soon.
The DG was unclear as to his plan for the position. He did
not seem to know much about the cultural diversity report
that the Ambassador had queried him on.

8. P5 for Capacity Building, Natural Sciences Sector: The
DG reported that he has decided to re-advertise that
position because the last recruitment process was flawed;
candidates were interviewed for a job that was different
from the one advertised. The DG emphasized that some strong
candidates had applied in the last round; if the U.S. is
interested in this position, applications should be
encouraged from outstanding candidates. The Ambassador
underlined our strong interest and our determination to
recruit qualified U.S. candidates.


9. Director, Division of Human Rights, Social and Human
Sciences Sector: The Ambassador asked the DG whether that
position would be filled before the completion of the review
of the Natural Science and Social and Human Sciences Sectors
(REFTEL). The DG responded that it would be filled, given
the importance of the subject area. The Ambassador stressed
very high-level Washington interest in recruitment for that
position, and expressed the hope that qualified American
candidates are being seriously considered.


10. P5 position for Democracy, Communications and
Information Sector: The Ambassador told the Director General
that we understand that a P5 position in democracy is being
recruited internally and that a French national is the
preferred candidate. She noted that this position is also
very important to the U.S. and that we would like to see an
external recruitment for it. The Director General was not
familiar with this recruitment situation, but said he would
look into it. He remarked that he had greatly increased the
number of positions being recruited externally, resulting in
his being criticized by the staff unions who say that this
is having a bad effect on staff morale. The DG also noted
that overall French representation at UNESCO in fact remains
stable when French candidates are successful in internal
recruitments.


11. P3 position for bioethics, Social and Human Services:
The DG mentioned that the secretariat is considering hiring
a professor from an American university to fill this slot.

COMPOSITION OF UNESCO SCIENCES REVIEW PANEL


12. When asked about the timing and composition of the
expert panel that will review the Natural Sciences and
Social and Human Sciences sectors (REFTEL),the DG said that
he had asked the six geographical groups to submit at least
three or four names, and that he would choose two from each
group. He also intends to ask six members of the
Secretariat to serve. He indicated that a choice would be

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made soon. The Ambassador stressed the importance of U.S.
representation on the panel and the DG said that he was very
aware of U.S. interest. The Ambassador queried the DG on
reports that Natural Sciences ADG Erdelen might be leaving.
The DG responded that he had given short-term appointments
to both Erdelen and to SHS ADG Sane pending the results of
the review. He said they were both very unhappy about that.
When the discussion on personnel issues concluded, the DG
said that he was very happy with Education ADG Peter Smith
and with External Relations Deputy ADG Jim Kulikowski, as
well as with Budget Deputy Director Rock Huang. He said
that these Americans were excellent to work with and were
making very positive contributions to UNESCO.


13. Comment: The Ambassador did not raise the issue of the
new director of UNESCO's New York office because that
decision had apparently already been made; she focused
instead on future appointments still under consideration.
End Comment.

Extra-budgetary Funding Issues


14. The Ambassador expressed concern at the laggard pace at
which $158,000 of the U.S. 2004 extra-budgetary funds
(ICSECA) had been disbursed from the Secretariat. The
Ambassador reported that she had raised this issue in
February 2005 with ADG Erdelen with regard to the portion
earmarked for the enhancement of engineering in the Natural
Sciences Sector; the situation is still in the process of
being resolved. The Ambassador stressed that the process
would need to be clarified before more extra-budgetary funds
could be given to UNESCO. The Ambassador reported that
Washington was working with members of the Secretariat, and
that she hoped to send him a letter soon outlining a fund-in-
trust agreement. The Ambassador expressed the hope that the
DG would support whatever we suggested in that letter. The
Director General at first thought the DG was talking about
the 2003 Special Account; when the Ambassador offered
clarification, he said that he was not pleased and said that
this program must be resolved as soon as possible and that
he looked forward to receiving the Ambassador's letter.
Oliver