USUNESCO GUIDANCE REQUEST: NEW INFORMATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000574

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO ECPS ETRD ECON EINT ETTC EAID UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO GUIDANCE REQUEST: NEW INFORMATION
ON POSSIBLE IPDC BUREAU CANDIDATES



1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND GUIDANCE REQUEST: Mission has
obtained new information on possible Dutch and Greek
candidacies for the International Program for the
Development of Communication Bureau (IPDC). Mission
has learned that although the Dutch have given 2
million USD to the program over the past twenty-five
years, none of it was donated in recent years. Mission
has also learned that Greece is interested in running
for the Bureau. They have given $78,882 to the IPDC
over the past 25 years. In light of this information
and the Secretary's emphasis on Transformational
Diplomacy, Mission requests guidance from IO/UNESCO on
whether to reconsider running for the IPDC Bureau.
Mission outlines four possible courses of action below.
END SUMMARY AND GUIDANCE REQUEST.

--------------
DUTCH NOT RECENT DONORS
--------------


2. (SBU) Mission has obtained new information about
The Netherlands possible IPDC Bureau candidacy.
Mission has learned that the Netherlands, a
historically significant contributor to the IPDC, has
not made any donations in recent years. Mission has
learned that the Netherlands has now asked their
National Commission to form a committee to see how they
might be able to identify resources and possible
funding for the IPDC in order to explore options.

--------------
POSSIBLE GREEK CANDIDACY
--------------


3. (SBU) In the meantime, Mission has learned that the
Greek delegation to UNESCO is considering a run for the
IPDC Bureau. (COMMENT: The Greek Ambassador to UNESCO
is a former journalist, which may explain their
interest in this small but worthy program. END
COMMENT.) Mission notes that the Internet Governance
Forum (IGF),an outcome of the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) Tunis Agenda, will be held
in Athens this fall and that Greece has indicated an
interest in hosting the IGF secretariat on a permanent
basis.

--------------
AN EU EDGE IN THE COMMUNICATION SECTOR?
--------------


4. (SBU) Mission observes that if either the
Netherlands or Greece represents Group One at the IPDC,
it would give the EU countries an even stronger voice
in the area of Communication and Information at UNESCO.
France already chairs the Information for All Program,
which is the other main program in UNESCO's
Communication and Information Sector.

--------------
VALUE OF THE IPDC FOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING
--------------


5. (SBU) Mission recommends increasing USG
involvement with the IPDC because it is an ideal means
to advance the Secretary's Transformational Diplomacy
agenda by developing independent media worldwide. IPDC
projects require relatively small sums for local
initiatives using radio, television and the Internet to
succeed. One example is "the Voice of Afghan Women" a
women's community radio project to which the USG
donated 60,000USD through the IPDC in FY05. The
program was so successful that the women now have a TV
station to reach an even wider audience. Mission
believes that this example, among many others,
demonstrates how the IPDC can be an excellent vehicle
for strengthening active participation in civil
society, especially by women. It also compliments USG
initiatives on education for democracy.

--------------
FOUR POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION
--------------


6. (SBU) Mission outlines four possible courses of
action for Washington to consider:

1. Mission remains on the IPDC Council, does not
run for the Bureau, and does not designate ICSECA funds
for the IPDC.

2. Mission remains on the Council, does not run
for the Bureau, but designates some ICSECA funds to the
IPDC.

3. Mission remains on the Council, does not run
for the Bureau, and supports either The Netherlands or
Greece for the Bureau.

4. Mission runs for the IPDC Bureau, and
Washington commits to designating some ICSECA funds to
the IPDC.
Oliver