Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS7054
2006-10-26 16:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
HAGUE CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEETING MISFIRES
how-tonull Lucia A Keegan 10/27/2006 10:15:54 AM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan Cable Text: UNCLAS PARIS 07054 SIPDIS cxparis: ACTION: UNESCO INFO: ECON AMBU AMB AMBO DCM SCI POL DISSEMINATION: UNESCOX CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:LVOLIVER DRAFTED: POL:DROSTROFF CLEARED: DCM:AKOSS VZCZCFRI884 RR RUEHC DE RUEHFR #7054 2991648 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 261648Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2580
UNCLAS PARIS 007054
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L - RICHARD LAHNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL
SUBJECT: HAGUE CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEETING MISFIRES
UNCLAS PARIS 007054
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L - RICHARD LAHNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL
SUBJECT: HAGUE CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEETING MISFIRES
1. The first meeting of the Committee for the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict at UNESCO ended
practically before it got started today, after member states
complained that the key document to be considered had not been
distributed in sufficient time for consultations with their
capitals. The meeting was suspended and will be rescheduled for
spring 2007.
2. Dr. Guido Carducci, Chief of UNESCO's International Standards
Section in the Division of Cultural Heritage, attempted to plow
forward with the agenda despite the fact that his office had only
distributed the 33-page legal document to member states at the start
of the meeting. Carducci apologized, explaining that his office is
extremely short-staffed, and overworked.
3. After talking with various representatives of the 12 member
states on the committee, Ambassador Oliver sparked the reaction
which prompted Finland, followed by other states, to call for the
meeting to be suspended until the document could be reviewed by
experts in their capitals. (The draft guidelines document, which
was to be considered for approval today, and the document suspending
the meeting will be forwarded to Washington by e-mail.)
4. As the US is not a signatory of the Convention, Ambassador
Oliver spoke only briefly. She noted that UNESCO must be held to its
own rules, which require a six-week period for review of such
documents. The Ambassador also told those present that using
UNESCO's limited resources to pay for organizing such an meeting at
this level without giving member states ample time to prepare is a
terrible example at a time when we are urging the organization to
use its funding more effectively. (COMMENT: The US was pleased to
see that instead of just complaining, as is often done by member
states, today, Committee members actually made a decision that they
would not participate in another one of the Secretariat's poorly
organized meetings. This should send an important message to
everyone at UNESCO that member states run the show and must have the
needed documents and consultation time before important meetings
take place in the future. End comment.)
OLIVER
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L - RICHARD LAHNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL
SUBJECT: HAGUE CONVENTION COMMITTEE MEETING MISFIRES
1. The first meeting of the Committee for the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict at UNESCO ended
practically before it got started today, after member states
complained that the key document to be considered had not been
distributed in sufficient time for consultations with their
capitals. The meeting was suspended and will be rescheduled for
spring 2007.
2. Dr. Guido Carducci, Chief of UNESCO's International Standards
Section in the Division of Cultural Heritage, attempted to plow
forward with the agenda despite the fact that his office had only
distributed the 33-page legal document to member states at the start
of the meeting. Carducci apologized, explaining that his office is
extremely short-staffed, and overworked.
3. After talking with various representatives of the 12 member
states on the committee, Ambassador Oliver sparked the reaction
which prompted Finland, followed by other states, to call for the
meeting to be suspended until the document could be reviewed by
experts in their capitals. (The draft guidelines document, which
was to be considered for approval today, and the document suspending
the meeting will be forwarded to Washington by e-mail.)
4. As the US is not a signatory of the Convention, Ambassador
Oliver spoke only briefly. She noted that UNESCO must be held to its
own rules, which require a six-week period for review of such
documents. The Ambassador also told those present that using
UNESCO's limited resources to pay for organizing such an meeting at
this level without giving member states ample time to prepare is a
terrible example at a time when we are urging the organization to
use its funding more effectively. (COMMENT: The US was pleased to
see that instead of just complaining, as is often done by member
states, today, Committee members actually made a decision that they
would not participate in another one of the Secretariat's poorly
organized meetings. This should send an important message to
everyone at UNESCO that member states run the show and must have the
needed documents and consultation time before important meetings
take place in the future. End comment.)
OLIVER