CHINA SEEKING SOLUTION AGREEABLE TO ALL ON UNESCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001937 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNESCO PARIS FOR UNESCO MISSION E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017 TAGS: PREL KPAL UNESCO CH IS SUBJECT: CHINA SEEKING SOLUTION AGREEABLE TO ALL ON UNESCO SPECIAL SESSION ISSUE REF: STATE 33996 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) China will try to find a solution to the proposal for a UNESCO special session on the Old City of Jerusalem that satisfies all parties, MFA International Organizations Counselor Jiang Qin told PolMinCouns in response to reftel demarche. The Chinese Chairman of UNESCO's Executive Board will act in strict accordance with UNESCO rules and procedures, Jiang said, noting that China's Chair is consulting with all parties now to find a solution. PolMinCouns emphasized that, as Chair, China has a duty to prevent politicization of UNESCO, to avoid setting a dangerous precedent and to reject the request for a special session, referring the matter to the World Heritage Committee. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In response to repeated requests by Embassy Beijing to deliver reftel demarche, MFA Director General for International Organizations Wu Hailong instructed Counselor Jiang Qin on March 22 to meet PolMinCouns to receive reftel demarche. PolMinCouns urged China to reject the request for a special session of UNESCO's Executive Board to discuss the Old City of Jerusalem. Agreeing to a special session in this case would set a dangerous precedent given the reality that the session is aimed politically at a UNESCO member. China should not allow the politicization of UNESCO. The agency has suffered in the past when it varied from its technical mission and pursued a political agenda. Beijing should instruct the Chairman of UNESCO's Executive Board to refer the matter entirely to the World Heritage Committee, as conservation of World Heritage Sites falls under that committee's mandate, PolMinCouns said. ¶3. (C) Jiang responded that China will try to find a solution that satisfies all parties. From the viewpoint of protecting world heritage, China understands the request by some Arab governments that hope to preserve heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem. China takes note of the United States' concerns and hopes to avoid politicization. The Chinese Chair of the Executive Board, Mr. Zhang Xingsheng, is in Paris now consulting with the parties in an effort to find a mutually acceptable solution, she added. ¶4. (C) As Chair, China will act in strict accordance with UNESCO's rules and procedures, Jiang said. PolMinCouns said the Chair should execise discretion and reject the request to avoi setting a precedent that would be damaging to UNESCO. Jiang said China takes the United States' position seriously and agreed to immediately convey the United States' message to DG Wu and AFM Cui Tiankai. RANDT