Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS3344
2006-05-18 14:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
MEETING WITH POLISH AMBASSADOR TO UNESCO REGARDING
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 003344
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE PASS TO NPS - STEPHEN MORRIS AND PAUL HOFFMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PL UNESCO
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH POLISH AMBASSADOR TO UNESCO REGARDING
AUSCHWITZ NAME CHANGE
UNCLAS PARIS 003344
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE PASS TO NPS - STEPHEN MORRIS AND PAUL HOFFMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PL UNESCO
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH POLISH AMBASSADOR TO UNESCO REGARDING
AUSCHWITZ NAME CHANGE
1. Guidance requested - see paragraph 6.
2. Poland's Ambassador to UNESCO, Maria Wodzynska-Walicka, met with
Ambassador Oliver this morning, May 18th at the US Mission, to
request USG support in Poland's efforts to formally change the name
of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp on the World Heritage
List to "Former Nazi German Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau."
3. The Polish Ambassador explained that the world press and, in
particular, American and German news articles, often refer to
Auschwitz as the "Polish concentration camp," a term which is
extremely offensive to the Polish people. She said that the name
change would help rectify the problem, ensuring that the name be
consistent with historical reality. Ambassador Wodzynska-Walicka
said that her initial contacts with UNESCO officials and her
counterparts in Paris, including the German ambassador, have been
very supportive of her request.
4. Ambassador Oliver said that requesting the name change makes
sense, and that the change is justified, given the need to be
accurate, honest, and faithful to the past.
5. The Polish ambassador said that her government had, in March,
made a formal request to the World Heritage Committee regarding the
name change. The next meetings in preparation for July's World
Heritage conference in Vilnius are scheduled to take place at UNESCO
headquarters in Paris on June 13.
6. US UNESCO requests that the Department provide formal guidance
on this matter prior to the June 13 meeting.
OLIVER
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
STATE PASS TO NPS - STEPHEN MORRIS AND PAUL HOFFMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PL UNESCO
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH POLISH AMBASSADOR TO UNESCO REGARDING
AUSCHWITZ NAME CHANGE
1. Guidance requested - see paragraph 6.
2. Poland's Ambassador to UNESCO, Maria Wodzynska-Walicka, met with
Ambassador Oliver this morning, May 18th at the US Mission, to
request USG support in Poland's efforts to formally change the name
of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp on the World Heritage
List to "Former Nazi German Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau."
3. The Polish Ambassador explained that the world press and, in
particular, American and German news articles, often refer to
Auschwitz as the "Polish concentration camp," a term which is
extremely offensive to the Polish people. She said that the name
change would help rectify the problem, ensuring that the name be
consistent with historical reality. Ambassador Wodzynska-Walicka
said that her initial contacts with UNESCO officials and her
counterparts in Paris, including the German ambassador, have been
very supportive of her request.
4. Ambassador Oliver said that requesting the name change makes
sense, and that the change is justified, given the need to be
accurate, honest, and faithful to the past.
5. The Polish ambassador said that her government had, in March,
made a formal request to the World Heritage Committee regarding the
name change. The next meetings in preparation for July's World
Heritage conference in Vilnius are scheduled to take place at UNESCO
headquarters in Paris on June 13.
6. US UNESCO requests that the Department provide formal guidance
on this matter prior to the June 13 meeting.
OLIVER