Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1707
2008-12-22 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE/UNESCO: POINTS DELIVERED ON UNESCO
how-toVZCZCXRO2382 OO RUEHFL RUEHKN RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHQU RUEHRN DE RUEHTH #1707 3571329 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221329Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2962 INFO RUCNSCO/UNESCO COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0406
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001707
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNESCO GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/UNESCO: POINTS DELIVERED ON UNESCO
DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELECTION
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001707
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNESCO GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/UNESCO: POINTS DELIVERED ON UNESCO
DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELECTION
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points on the UNESCO
Director-General election on December 16 to Emmanuel
Papadoyorgakis, Counselor for UN issues of the Greek MFA D1
Directorate for UN and International Organizations and
Conferences. Papadoyorgakis remarked that it would be
"difficult" to find an Arab candidate who had not expressed
anti-Israeli sentiment. Poloff responded that we would
welcome potentially strong candidates from the Arab region;
however, Farouk Hosni's statements were particularly extreme
and risked polarizing the organization. The U.S. would like
to avoid any situation that could create pressure for the
U.S. to reconsider its 2004 decision to return to UNESCO or
that would put at risk UNESCO's ability to achieve its
mandate. Papadoyorgakis thanked PolOff for the points, and
said that he would share them with his colleagues in Athens
and New York and report back if/when he had a substantive
reply.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNESCO GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/UNESCO: POINTS DELIVERED ON UNESCO
DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELECTION
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points on the UNESCO
Director-General election on December 16 to Emmanuel
Papadoyorgakis, Counselor for UN issues of the Greek MFA D1
Directorate for UN and International Organizations and
Conferences. Papadoyorgakis remarked that it would be
"difficult" to find an Arab candidate who had not expressed
anti-Israeli sentiment. Poloff responded that we would
welcome potentially strong candidates from the Arab region;
however, Farouk Hosni's statements were particularly extreme
and risked polarizing the organization. The U.S. would like
to avoid any situation that could create pressure for the
U.S. to reconsider its 2004 decision to return to UNESCO or
that would put at risk UNESCO's ability to achieve its
mandate. Papadoyorgakis thanked PolOff for the points, and
said that he would share them with his colleagues in Athens
and New York and report back if/when he had a substantive
reply.
SPECKHARD