UNESCO MARTI PRIZE, REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000891 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/10/2016 TAGS: VE CU UNESCO SUBJECT: UNESCO MARTI PRIZE, REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE Ref: Paris 850 Classified by DCM Andrew Koss, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is a request for guidance?see para. 4. ¶2. (C) Though the newly arrived Brazilian ambassador has told Ambassador Oliver that he wants to put the negative atmosphere of the cultural diversity convention behind us and work with USDEL, his nomination of Hugo Chavez for the Marti prize indicates a continuing willingness to score points at US expense. (Note: Brazil worked hand- in-glove with the French to push for the convention and the former ambassador was openly antagonistic to US positions during negotiations.) The same seems to be the case of the Panamanian ambassador who told us during the cultural diversity saga that he wanted to work with us. (Note: The Panamanian is French educated and does not speak English.) We have not had much contact yet with the newly arrived Uruguayan who serves with us on the bureau of the Executive Board. The Venezuelan ambassador has let loose with anti-American diatribes at the Executive Board, so we do not expect anything better from him. ¶3. (C) Thus far, there has been virtually no discussion of the Marti prize at UNESCO. This corresponds with the UNESCO secretariat?s desire to downplay its involvement in the prize, which included no UNESCO representation at the awards ceremony in Havana. ¶4. (C) Guidance requested: Having only just learned which delegations participated in the choice of Chavez, Mission has not yet engaged in any conversations with those delegations. Given the under-handed support of the Brazilian, Uruguayan, Panamanian and Argentinian delegations for the choice of Chavez for the Marti prize, Mission requests guidance on dealing with these delegations. Should they be demarched? If so, at what level? If action is requested in Paris please provide talking points. OLIVER