UNESCO CONVENTION ON CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS UPDATE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000424 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD SCUL AE UNESCO SUBJECT: UNESCO CONVENTION ON CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS UPDATE AND INFORMATION REQUEST REF: SECSTATE 19851 ¶1. (SBU) It is difficult to determine the exact level of activity with regard to ratification of the UNESCO convention in the UAE, because the UAE does not generally publicize its efforts on treaty ratification, until the treaty has either been ratified -- or at the very least has received cabinet approval for ratification. Based on the complete lack of discussion of this issue in the media since last October, however, and the fact that treaty approval in the UAE is a long, laborious process, involving both the federal government and the individual emirates, we do not believe that the UAEG is likely to move quickly on this issue. Without discussing this with the UAEG, however, we do not know for certain. We were not able to find any references to this issue in the media since October. We found one reference in May of 2005, when the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture, who headed the delegation to the UNESCO meeting, said that the convention was crucial to the issue of sustainable development. ¶2. (SBU) Ratification Efforts Categories Treaty Approval Agenda - Unknown. Media Attention - a) No published/broadcast opinion for or against ratification since October. Public Debate - a) No civil society debate since October. OLSIN-WINDECKER