Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS5853
2006-08-31 12:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
(U)UNESCO: LEBANON RESOLUTION UPDATE III
how-tonull Lucia A Keegan 09/05/2006 05:28:08 PM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 05853 SIPDIS cxparis: ACTION: UNESCO INFO: POL ECON AMBU AMB AMBO DCM SCI DISSEMINATION: UNESCOX CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:LOLIVER DRAFTED: CHARGE:AKOSS CLEARED: NONE VZCZCFRI530 OO RUEHC RUEHGV RUCNDT RUEHTV RUEHEE DE RUEHFR #5853 2431256 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 311256Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0892 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2479 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0875 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0551 RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005853
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL LE
SUBJECT: (U)UNESCO: LEBANON RESOLUTION UPDATE III
REF: A. PARIS 5463 (notal),B. PARIS 5653 (notal),C. PARIS 5768
Classified by DCM Andrew Koss, reasons 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005853
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL LE
SUBJECT: (U)UNESCO: LEBANON RESOLUTION UPDATE III
REF: A. PARIS 5463 (notal),B. PARIS 5653 (notal),C. PARIS 5768
Classified by DCM Andrew Koss, reasons 1.4(d).
1. (C) Summary: UNESCO's first evaluation mission has returned
from Lebanon. While the mission leader's first report uses
dramatic language to describe the situation on the ground, the
Director-General (DG) issued a press release on August 30 that
is decidedly more neutral and lists the particular areas where
UNESCO will assist without any polemics. The Israeli ambassador
to UNESCO has been instructed that his government may now
consider a resolution that treats both countries as victims.
The DG's executive assistant and the Assistant Director General
for Culture say that they will help ensure that language in the
resolution is as neutral as possible. End summary.
2. (U) UNESCO's first evaluation mission has returned from
Lebanon and issued several reports. While most of the reports
remain technical in nature and cover topics such as education
and cultural monuments, the cover paper engages in polemics and
talks about the extensive destruction to Lebanon and the number
of people displaced. These reports were not widely circulated
outside of the secretariat.
3. (U) On August 30, DG Matsuura issued a press release that is
measured in tone, avoids all polemics and deals strictly with
the technical work that UNESCO plans to undertake in Lebanon.
Those projects will include the repair and refurbishment of 18
vocational schools and work to "help Lebanon's diverse
communities overcome possible divisions created by the conflict
and to live harmoniously." The DG's press release also notes
that Lebanon's World Heritage sites sustained no visible damage,
though he does express concern about damage from an oil slick to
the old port of Byblos.
4. (C) Israeli Ambassador David Kornbluth called Ambassador
Oliver on August 29 to tell her that his government remains very
hard line on the issue of a resolution at the Executive Board
but may be willing to accept a resolution that deals with
Lebanon and Israel as victims. They would not consider a
resolution that contained negative language about Israel.
5. (C) Ambassador Oliver separate conversations with Elizabeth
Longworth, the DG's chef de cabinet (executive assistant) and
Francoise Riviere, the Assistant Director General for Culture.
During the conversation with Longworth, Ambassador Oliver
emphasized the need for carefully selecting the language that
describes the situation. That message seems to have been taken
to heart and is reflected in the DG's press release. Riviere,
who played a key role in the negotiations over the "cartoon
issue" at the last Executive Board, made it clear that she will
work for a consensus document and intends to oppose language
that will politicize the Organization. (Comment: Riviere did a
good job working for these goals during the cartoon
negotiations.)
6. (U) (Comment) We are still probably two weeks from the
emergence of an actual resolution. So far at least, the
Director General and his senior staff are trying to steer the
conversation in a positive direction. It remains to be seen if
the Arab group will be as conciliatory.
Oliver
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL LE
SUBJECT: (U)UNESCO: LEBANON RESOLUTION UPDATE III
REF: A. PARIS 5463 (notal),B. PARIS 5653 (notal),C. PARIS 5768
Classified by DCM Andrew Koss, reasons 1.4(d).
1. (C) Summary: UNESCO's first evaluation mission has returned
from Lebanon. While the mission leader's first report uses
dramatic language to describe the situation on the ground, the
Director-General (DG) issued a press release on August 30 that
is decidedly more neutral and lists the particular areas where
UNESCO will assist without any polemics. The Israeli ambassador
to UNESCO has been instructed that his government may now
consider a resolution that treats both countries as victims.
The DG's executive assistant and the Assistant Director General
for Culture say that they will help ensure that language in the
resolution is as neutral as possible. End summary.
2. (U) UNESCO's first evaluation mission has returned from
Lebanon and issued several reports. While most of the reports
remain technical in nature and cover topics such as education
and cultural monuments, the cover paper engages in polemics and
talks about the extensive destruction to Lebanon and the number
of people displaced. These reports were not widely circulated
outside of the secretariat.
3. (U) On August 30, DG Matsuura issued a press release that is
measured in tone, avoids all polemics and deals strictly with
the technical work that UNESCO plans to undertake in Lebanon.
Those projects will include the repair and refurbishment of 18
vocational schools and work to "help Lebanon's diverse
communities overcome possible divisions created by the conflict
and to live harmoniously." The DG's press release also notes
that Lebanon's World Heritage sites sustained no visible damage,
though he does express concern about damage from an oil slick to
the old port of Byblos.
4. (C) Israeli Ambassador David Kornbluth called Ambassador
Oliver on August 29 to tell her that his government remains very
hard line on the issue of a resolution at the Executive Board
but may be willing to accept a resolution that deals with
Lebanon and Israel as victims. They would not consider a
resolution that contained negative language about Israel.
5. (C) Ambassador Oliver separate conversations with Elizabeth
Longworth, the DG's chef de cabinet (executive assistant) and
Francoise Riviere, the Assistant Director General for Culture.
During the conversation with Longworth, Ambassador Oliver
emphasized the need for carefully selecting the language that
describes the situation. That message seems to have been taken
to heart and is reflected in the DG's press release. Riviere,
who played a key role in the negotiations over the "cartoon
issue" at the last Executive Board, made it clear that she will
work for a consensus document and intends to oppose language
that will politicize the Organization. (Comment: Riviere did a
good job working for these goals during the cartoon
negotiations.)
6. (U) (Comment) We are still probably two weeks from the
emergence of an actual resolution. So far at least, the
Director General and his senior staff are trying to steer the
conversation in a positive direction. It remains to be seen if
the Arab group will be as conciliatory.
Oliver