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