JAMAICA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED RE UNESCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000606 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - JOSLYN MACK-WILSON IO/UNESCO - KELLY SIEKMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2014 TAGS: UNESCO JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED RE UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELECTION REF: STATE 82701 (101148Z AUG 09) Classified By: CDA LWMoss, Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 1.(C) Per reftel, Charge conveyed the U.S. position with regard to the UNESCO Director-General election during a private meeting with Ambassador Vilma McNish, the Under Secretary for Multilateral Affairs in the Government of Jamaica (GoJ)'s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),on the morning of August 13. 2.(C) Amb. McNish indicated the following: -- The GoJ's position with respect to the UNESCO Director-General election was similar to that of the USG. MFAFT was impressed by the resumes and wide experience of the candidates from Austria, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Lithuania, and Tanzania. -- The GoJ had not yet determined which of the candidates Jamaica would support. -- The GoJ hoped that a consensus candidate would emerge, and that a divisive, prolonged election process could be avoided, so that the new Director-General would enjoy broad international support. 3.(C) Post will report any further information regarding the GoJ's position as it becomes available. MOSS