AUSTRALIA ON WIPO D-G ELECTION

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000469 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR US MISSION GENEVA; STATE FOR IO/T LUFTIG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ON WIPO D-G ELECTION REF: STATE 47557 ¶1. (U) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Nicholas Rodgers, Director for International Intellectual Property at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 9. IP Australia, preparing for the long trip to Geneva, was unable to attend, but DFAT has been in close consultation with them and both are fully engaged in Australia's effort to gain election for its candidate, Dr. Francis Gurry. ¶2. (SBU) Rodgers expressed appreciation that the USG included Gurry as one of the five qualified candidates to become Director General of WIPO, and was pleased that the US was sending the message urging WIPO members to support one of these five best qualified candidates. He said he could not reveal Australia's second option should Gurry not win (which he said would depend in any case on who else was left standing),but said the GOA shared our assessment that the candidates from Slovenia, Japan, Mexico, and Kenya were all "backable". ¶3. (SBU) Rodgers said that Gurry has received good support from African members, and that he seems to be being "taken seriously" as a candidate. He said the "pro-Idris" group apparently see Gurry as a potential threat - an indication that they believe he is a serious contender for the top job. CLUNE