WIPO DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION - SLOVENIA

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000210 SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR TOM YEAGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR AORC ETRD PREL WIPO SI SUBJECT: WIPO DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION - SLOVENIA REF: SECSTATE 47559 (U) Emboff delivered reftel points on May 9 to Dr. Biserka Strel, Director of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office, and the Slovenian representative attending the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) meeting May 13-14. She thanked the U.S. for identifying Slovenia's candidate for WIPO Director General, Dr. Bojan Pretnar, as one of the five candidates that fully meet the U.S. criteria for WIPO's next DG and the needs of WIPO. In the event that Dr. Pretnar is not ultimately chosen as DG, Emboff urged Dr. Strel to support one of the other four candidates indicated by the U.S. as the most capable to lead WIPO. Dr. Strel assured Emboff that Slovenia will take the U.S. position under strong consideration. COLEMAN