RESEND: MARSHALL PLAN 60TH ANNIVERSARY

UNCLAS STATE 032192

SIPDIS

OECD
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EUN FR KPAO SCUL UNESCO
SUBJECT: RESEND: MARSHALL PLAN 60TH ANNIVERSARY


1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 6 & 7.


2. (U) The year 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the
Marshall Plan, arguably the most significant American
diplomatic and economic initiative towards Europe in our
nations, history. In the aftermath of World War II, the
Marshall Plan represented the U.S. vision for rebuilding
the economies of a continent devastated by two wars in
thirty years.


3. (U) In his famous remarks on June 5, 1947 at Harvard
University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall offered
U.S. support if Europe were to launch an initiative for
its own recovery. On July 12, 1947, representatives of 16
European nations and the western zones of Germany met in
Paris to plan a joint response to Marshall,s offer.

Commemorative Events


4. (U) The Tri-Missions of France -- U.S. Mission to the
OECD, Embassy Paris and the U.S. Mission to UNESCO -- are
planning a number of activities in 2007 to commemorate
this important anniversary. In particular, the Missions
are organizing a symposium on June 13th at the George C.
Marshall Center in the Hotel de Talleyrand, entitled, The
Marshall Plan: Lessons Learned for the 21st Century.8


5. (U) The symposium will review historic, diplomatic,
economic, and strategic aspects of the program in an
effort to address their applicability today. Scholars,
historians, government officials, students and business
people from Europe and the United States will discuss
lessons the Marshall Plan holds for today,s challenges,
particularly those of building capacity and sustainable
development in today,s emerging market economies.

Marshall Plan Country Invitations


6. (U) To ensure representation from Marshall Plan
countries at the symposium, Posts in Marshall Plan
capitals are requested to submit a list of names and
mailing addresses of appropriate guests to be invited from
their respective countries. Of high priority, Posts are
encouraged to include any individuals that were part of
delegations to the original Paris conference and/or
associated with administering the Marshall program in
their respective countries, as well as important think
tanks such as the German Marshall Fund.


7. (U) Please identify your recommended guest list in
descending order of priority, one (1) representing the
highest priority participation. Please also highlight
those individuals who are former members of Marshall
delegations that will receive special recognition during
the symposium.


8. (U) Submissions can be emailed to Jane Delbene,
Public Affairs, U.S. Mission to the OECD at
delbenejl@state.gov, no later than March 23, 2007.
RICE