UNESCO: MORE ON COMPETITION FOR ADG CULTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000602 SIPDIS FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS FOR IO/UNESCO, EB FOR A/S SILVERBERG FROM AMBASSADOR OLIVER E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016 TAGS: ETRD SCUL CA FR UNESCO SUBJECT: UNESCO: MORE ON COMPETITION FOR ADG CULTURE RE: PARIS 536 ¶1. (U) Classified by Andrew Koss, Deputy Chief of Mission, reason 1.4. (D) ¶2. (C) The competition for the position of ADG Culture is getting more intense. Rumors stating that Francoise Riviere has been or soon will be chosen continue to gain strength, thereby causing increased concern by those who do not support her candidacy, including the U.S. ¶3. (C) On January 24 the Ambassador from Italy to UNESCO said that for some EU countries the real agenda behind the EU's letter to the Director-General that was highly critical of the World Heritage Center was to undercut the candidacy of Francesco Bandarin for ADG Culture. Presumably that would eliminate Bandarin as a serious competitor to Riviere. The Italian Ambassador was very unhappy about that, and said that it showed how determined some countries are to promote Riviere's candidacy. (Comment-Given how strongly France is promoting ratification of the cultural diversity convention, it is likely that France may have played a leading role in the EU letter, even though it was circulated by the UK. The French are increasingly using other countries to promote their agenda and are saying very little in public. They did not, for example, make a single comment during the DG's all-day question-and-answer session on January 19). ¶4. (C) The Ambassador from Jordan said on January 27 that the Arab Group does not think that Francoise Rivere has the professional qualifications necessary for the ADG Culture position and would not be respected by serious conservation and preservation professionals. They intend to meet with the Director-General this week to oppose her candidacy and promote the candidacy of the Moroccan candidate instead. (Comment, Although we do not support their view that the ADG Culture position should be given to an Arab again, we are pleased by their opposition to Riviere, as there must be strong political pressure put on Matsuura not to choose Riviere.) ¶5. (C) Post would like to know whether, in addition to opposing Riviere, support should be given to the Moroccan candidate. Although perhaps any country is better than France, Morocco is a strong supporter of the convention and of standard setting instruments in general, as was shown by their comments at the Director- General's Jan 19th information session. 6) (U) Resumes on the Moroccan and Riviere will be forwarded separately. 7) (C) Comment: Post cannot overemphasize the importance of the decision of ADG Culture for the U.S. engagement at UNESCO. If France or some other strong cultural diversity convention supporter is given that position, it will be very difficult to have serious USG influence on the future work of the Culture Sector. That might include the development of new instruments in the field of culture, in addition to promoting the ratification and implementation of existing cultural instruments, as just happened with the Intangible Cultural Heritage convention that will enter into force on April 20. 8) (C) Comment continued: It would also affect that level of UNESCO's participation in non Paris-based national and regional meetings that focus on the development of local and national cultural policies, such as the recent meeting in Vietnam organized by the Francophonie where the European Commission played an active role promoting the ratification of the cultural diversity convention. Given the close relationship between cultural and economic issues and policies, this could create additional challenges for the USG, particularly in the area of trade. 9) (C) Post is also concerned that on January 24 the Globeand Mail in Canada reported that Stephen Harper had pledged that francophone Quebec would have a voice in certain international forums, such as UNESCO. This would not be a problem if it means increased participation in the Canadian delegation. However, if it means a separate voice for Quebec, such as getting observer status at UNESCO like the EC which Post was told earlier in the fall was their goal, it would make things even more difficult for the USG in the area of culture. 10) (C) Finally, the choice of and ADG Culture who is reviewed as the ultimate inside-player at UNESCO and/or someone from a country unsympathetic to USG concerns on cultural diversity will be seen as a signal to the rest of the organization that despite the USG's large financial contribution, it does not have much power or influence at UNESCO. OLIVER