PHILIPPINE REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR UNESCO

UNCLAS MANILA 000520 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR IO/P AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD ¶1. (U) The Philippine government has formally requested that the U.S. support its candidacy for the UNESCO Executive Board. (Full text in para 2.) Please advise of any response. ¶2. (U) Text No. 07-474 The Department of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America, and has the honor to inform that the Philippine Government has launched its candidature to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Board at elections to be held in Paris in October 2007. UNESCO is an organization that contributes to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through science, education, and culture. The Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO. The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the organization and the corresponding budget estimates proposed by the Secretariat, and ensure the effective and rational execution SIPDIS of the programme of the Director-General. The Executive Board also proposes the agenda and working methods of the bi-annual session of the General Conference. The Philippines was a member of the Executive Board from 1950-54, 58-62, 74-78, 83-87, 91-95, and 1999-2003. During the tenure of the Philippines in the UNESCO Executive Board in 1999-2003, the Philippines held the following positions: 1) It was elected Chairman of the 54-strong Asia-Pacific Group (ASPAC) in UNESCO; 2) Chairman of UNESCO's Committee on Conventions and Recommendations; 3) Chairman of the Commission on Culture; 4) 2nd Vice Chairman of the 20th congress of Union Latina; 5) member of the Administrative and Budget Committee of BIE (Bureau International des Expositions); and during its Chairmanship of G-77, the Philippines gave added emphasis on UNESCO's important role in the world community. Currently, the Philippines is a member of the following UNESCO subsidiary bodies; the International Coordinating Council for the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAG) 2005-2990, International Bioethics Committee 2005-2007 and the Memory of the World International Advisory Committee. The Philippines wishes to continue its work for the "Debt Swaps for Education," a Resolution which proposes the creation of a Group of 77 Working Group to address the issue. The Philippines has been instrumental to its adoption and gathered support for this initiative in the international development agenda. Moreover, the Philippines' UNESCO bid has been endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In light of the foregoing, the Government of the Philippines would like to solicit the support of the Government of the United States of the Philippines' UNESCO Executive Board candidature. The Department of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Pasay City, 07 February 2007 end quote KENNEY