FRENCH MFA IN A BIND OVER EGYPTIAN UNESCO CANDIDACY

S E C R E T PARIS 002229 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018 TAGS: UNESCO FR SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA IN A BIND OVER EGYPTIAN UNESCO CANDIDACY REF: A. STATE 127120 B. PARIS POINTS 12/5 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kathleen H. Allegrone. Rea sons 1.4b,d ¶1. (S/NF) IO A/S-Equivalent Sylvie Berman, expressing a personal view that she suggested many colleagues shared, conceded to Pol M/C that the candidacy of Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni for UNESCO Director-General (DG) was a "shocking nomination" but she stressed France was in awkward straits, given President Sarkozy's pledge of support to President Mubarak in 2007. Hosni's previous declaration that he would burn Israeli books in Egyptian libraries was egregious -- irreconciliable with UNESCO's vocation to protect the written word. Berman was incredulous that Hosni's remarks had not sparked a wider outcry. Berman cited a quip within MFA ranks that electing Hosni as UNESCO DG was equivalent to choosing a vampire to run the World Blood Bank. ¶2. (S) The French Presidency was now sensitized to U.S. concerns, thanks to Ambassador Stapleton's letter to Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Levitte, Pol M/C's own interventions at the Presidency and the MFA, and the engagement of US-UNESCO Ambassador Oliver. However, Berman intimated that raising the issue with President Sarkozy as well as finding the means to disentangle him from his pledge was a sensitive challenge, institutionally, though the clear expression of the U.S. position would help build the case. She was satisfied to learn that the U.S. did not oppose the notion of an alternate candidate from either Egypt or another Arab League member state, noting that Egypt early on had brusquely pushed aside a Moroccan candidate clearly superior to Hosni. ¶3. (S/NF) The MFA was "paralyzed" by Sarkozy's commitment to Mubarak; Berman could not raise the topic freely with counterparts and Kouchner, whose views she implied were consonant with hers, was equally stymied. Berman, echoed by UNESCO Desk Officer Cecile Vigneau, suggested the MFA felt isolated and lacked a good picture of where even its European partners stood. She would welcome such information, if available, for major European players as well as for Latin America. Her Mexican counterpart, in the course of consultations on accession to the UNSC, had commiserated that both were in a similar fix -- Mubarak, he said, had ambushed President Calderon during a cultural event at the Pyramids to secure Mexican support. Additionally, Berman wondered if there was no resistance to report among NGOs to Hosni's nomination. Lastly, Berman suggested it would be helpful for France to get a clear message of the bipartisan character of the U.S. opposition to Hosni, stating that she would be available to speak with visiting Staffdel Killion, for instance. (Note: Post and US-UNESCO are working to accommodate this request. End Note.) Helping France out of a Box -------------- ¶4. (C) Request: Any information on demarches we have made or will make to other key parties, over and above Ambassador Oliver's interventions here in Paris, that we can share with our French counterparts would be much appreciated. From this conversation, it appears that the Egyptians have already touched a lot of key bases. Post assesses that Berman, apart from her clear sympathies with the U.S. position, is well situated to advance the argument within the French Government, in parallel with contacts at the French Presidency. In addition, if the Department has not already reached out to the French Ambassador in Washington, we judge that an approach to him would also be useful. STAPLETON