URUGUAY SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR CANDIDACY OF DR.

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000042 SIPDIS WHA/BSC FOR DASCHBACH ALSO PASS IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR CANDIDACY OF DR. ERNESTO RUBIO FOR NEW TERM AS SUB-DIRECTOR GENERAL OF WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO) ¶1. Embassy Montevideo received diplomatic note 990/08 informing that Uruguay has nominated Dr. Ernesto Rubio for a new term as Sub-Director General of the WIPO in selections set to take place in Geneva beginning this month. ¶2. Unofficial translation of diplomatic note text from GOU Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows: --Begin Unofficial Translation-- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretariat for Political Affairs, Department of Multilateral Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to make known that the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay has presented the candidacy of Dr. Ernesto Rubio for a new term as Subdirector General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),in the selections that will take place in Geneva beginning in January 2009. The Coordination Committee of the aforementioned Organization will evaluate the candidacies presented for the above-named position. Dr. Ernesto Rubio, in his capacity as Assistant Director, directs the Brands Sector, Industrial Designs and Geographic Indications of the WIPO, which oversees 10 of the treaties administered by the Organization. He has under his charge, among others: - Systems for International Brand Registry (Madrid Agreement and Protocol),Industrial Designs (Hague Agreement),and Denominations of Origin (Lisbon Agreement) - International System for the Protection of State Emblems and Names and Emblems of Inter-governmental Organizations (Paris Convention) - Institutional support offered to the Assemblies of the WIPO and the Permanent Representative of the Organization to Brand Rights, Industrial Design and Geographic Indications, relative to the study and development of international law in these areas; - International Classifications in the subjects of brand and industrial design (Agreements of Nice and Locarne and the Vienna Accord) Under his leadership, the Brand, Industrial Design and Geographic Indications Sector of WIPO has assured an efficient administration of the international registration systems and has significantly improved the quality of services provided to commerce and industry. Thanks to his capacity for general consensus, he contributed to the success of the negotiations which concluded with the adoption of the Treaty of Singapore for Brand Rights and of the Supplementary Resolution of that treaty in the Diplomatic Conference of WIPO in March 2006. He has succeeded in ensuring that industry and commerce in all Member States, and in particular small and medium enterprises, may receive full benefit from the services offered by WIPO in the areas of industrial brand design and geographic indications. In that sense, he has promoted close cooperation with developing and under-developed countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab and Asia Pacific regions with countries in transition in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. With the aforementioned in mind, it is obvious that Dr. Ernesto Rubio possesses the professional qualifications to continue occupying the position to which he aspires, and to continue working for the benefit of all WIPO member states. Taking into account the deep bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite our countries, the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay would greatly value the support that the Government of the United States could provide for the aforementioned GRULAC candidacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretariat for Political Affairs, Department of Multilateral Affairs, takes this opportunity to reiterate to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Montevideo, 31 December 2008 --End Unofficial Translation-- ¶3. Post would appreciate Department's guidance regarding U.S. support of this candidate. Matthewman