SERBIA WILL SUPPORT EGYPTIAN CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO HEAD

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000950 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO (SIEKMAN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNESCO SR SUBJECT: SERBIA WILL SUPPORT EGYPTIAN CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO HEAD REF: STATE 82575 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Following through on a commitment from President Tadic to President Mubarak, Serbia intends to support the Egyptian candidate in the September 17 vote for the next Director-General of UNESCO. Given the nature of the promise, and its willingness to spurn Russia's candidate in favor of the Egyptian, it is highly unlikely that Serbia will change its vote. End Summary. Serbs: We Committed to Support Egyptian Candidate -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) MFA Political Director Borislav Stefanovic told the Charge on August 25 that Serbia would vote for the Egyptian candidate in the UNESCO Director-General race (reftel). According to Stefanovic, Egyptian President Mubarak directly asked President Tadic to support Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni during Tadic's July visit to Egypt, and Tadic agreed. ¶3. (SBU) When the Charge stressed that the United States believed that there were several other candidates who have better demonstrated the qualifications needed to head UNESCO, Stefanovic replied that Tadic had "given his word" to Mubarak that Serbia would support Hosni, who, according to Stefanovic, was a personal friend of Mubarak. (Note: When describing the interaction, Stefanovic, interestingly used the Albanian word "besa," which connotes a promise based on faith and trust. End note.) Russians Unhappy -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Stefanovic added that Russia was extremely unhappy when informed of Serbia's stance, having presumed that Serbia would support its candidate, Deputy Foreign Minister Yakovenko. BRUSH