Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA635
2008-05-07 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA FULLY SUPPORTS USG ON WIPO DG ELECTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #0635 1281531 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071531Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0154 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1409 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS VIENNA 000635
SIPDIS
FOR U.S. MISSION GENEVA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA FULLY SUPPORTS USG ON WIPO DG ELECTION
REF: STATE 47559
UNCLAS VIENNA 000635
SIPDIS
FOR U.S. MISSION GENEVA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA FULLY SUPPORTS USG ON WIPO DG ELECTION
REF: STATE 47559
1. On May 7, emboffs delivered reftel talking points to Robert
Ullrich, Head of the Patent Office's Legal Department, a part of the
Ministry of Transportation, Innovation and Technology. Ullrich will
represent Austria at the WIPO Coordination Committee May 13-14. We
also conveyed the USG position to the Ministries of Justice and
Foreign Affairs. Ullrich assured us that the Austrian position was
fully coordinated within the GoA.
2. Ullrich stated that Australia's Francis Gurry was the GoA's
preferred candidate for the DG post. The GoA's second (unnamed)
choice also came from the USG's list of top five candidates.
Regarding the voting intentions of other governments, Ullrich opined
that EU Member States might support the Polish or the French
candidates, while the Italian candidate, following the results of
the Italian elections, was no longer a viable candidate. The GoA
believes that many developing countries are leaning towards the
Pakistani or Brazilian candidate. In Ullrich's opinion, Kenya's
James Otieno Odek enjoys some support, but, with an African
currently in the position, there may be a preference to rotate the
DG position to another region.
3. According to Ullrich, Austria fully shares the USG position that
WIPO must regain its role as a strong voice in Intellectual Property
(IP) discussions and decision-making. Ullrich criticized the
tendency in recent years to assign lead roles to organizations such
as WHO and UNCTAD on certain IP issues, to the detriment of WIPO.
KILNER#
SIPDIS
FOR U.S. MISSION GENEVA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA FULLY SUPPORTS USG ON WIPO DG ELECTION
REF: STATE 47559
1. On May 7, emboffs delivered reftel talking points to Robert
Ullrich, Head of the Patent Office's Legal Department, a part of the
Ministry of Transportation, Innovation and Technology. Ullrich will
represent Austria at the WIPO Coordination Committee May 13-14. We
also conveyed the USG position to the Ministries of Justice and
Foreign Affairs. Ullrich assured us that the Austrian position was
fully coordinated within the GoA.
2. Ullrich stated that Australia's Francis Gurry was the GoA's
preferred candidate for the DG post. The GoA's second (unnamed)
choice also came from the USG's list of top five candidates.
Regarding the voting intentions of other governments, Ullrich opined
that EU Member States might support the Polish or the French
candidates, while the Italian candidate, following the results of
the Italian elections, was no longer a viable candidate. The GoA
believes that many developing countries are leaning towards the
Pakistani or Brazilian candidate. In Ullrich's opinion, Kenya's
James Otieno Odek enjoys some support, but, with an African
currently in the position, there may be a preference to rotate the
DG position to another region.
3. According to Ullrich, Austria fully shares the USG position that
WIPO must regain its role as a strong voice in Intellectual Property
(IP) discussions and decision-making. Ullrich criticized the
tendency in recent years to assign lead roles to organizations such
as WHO and UNCTAD on certain IP issues, to the detriment of WIPO.
KILNER#