Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARISFR1458
2009-10-29 15:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission UNESCO
Cable title:  

WORLD HERITAGE ELECTION RESULTS

Tags:  SCUL PREL UNESCO 
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UNCLAS SENSITIVE PARIS FR 01458
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 ACTION: UNESCO AMB
 INFO: POL ECON AMBU AMBO DCM SCI DAO

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VZCZCFRI486
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHFR #1458/01 3021538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291538Z OCT 09
FM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS FR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS FR 001458 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR IO; PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PREL UNESCO
SUBJECT: WORLD HERITAGE ELECTION RESULTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS FR 001458

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR IO; PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PREL UNESCO
SUBJECT: WORLD HERITAGE ELECTION RESULTS


1. (U) Summary: Elections were held October 26 during the 17th
meeting of the World Heritage General Assembly at UNESCO to replace
12 of the 21 Member States on the World Heritage Committee. Changes
in the Rules of Procedure were adopted including a voluntary
reduction in term length to four years (down from six years) for
World Heritage Committee members, and a minimum gap of four years
between terms on the Committee. End summary.


2. (U) The following countries were elected to the World Heritage
Committee:

Cambodia
Estonia
Ethiopia
France
Iraq
Mali
Mexico
Russia (special ballot - non-represented group)
South Africa
Switzerland
Thailand
United Arab Emirates (special ballot, state without a site)


3. (U) Several changes in the General Assembly's Rules of Procedure
were adopted, after a heated and often chaotic day-long debate, in
an effort to bring greater geographic representation into the
composition of the WH Committee and to simplify the electoral
process. Notably, a four-year moratorium before seeking re-election
to the Committee, merely a gentleman's agreement until now, was
formally incorporated into the Rules of Procedure. Also, voluntary
WH Committee term limits were adopted, inserted as a footnote into
the Rules of Procedure. Other changes were made to ensure that
non-represented geographic groups and states without any property on
the World Heritage List are assured a seat through separate ballots.
For this reason, voting for the twelve vacant seats took place in
three separate rounds:

- The first round was a special election for one seat which was
reserved for a country having no sites on the World Heritage List.
The only candidate was the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE was
elected by acclamation without any balloting taking place.

- Although the World Heritage Convention does not formally recognize
the traditional UN and UNESCO regional groups, the second round was
devoted to the election of one seat reserved for any geographic
group currently unrepresented on the World Heritage Committee. In
this case, Group II - Eastern Europe, had been unrepresented on the
WH Committee. Six countries were candidates for the seat. The first
round of voting was inconclusive, as no state won an absolute
majority (half of all votes, plus one). A second round was held
where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes was
declared the winner. The Russian Federation won the election, with
54 votes.

- The third round of voting was a general round for the remaining
ten seats. Five seats were filled in the first ballot by those
states receiving an absolute majority of votes: France,
Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia, and South Africa. The winners in
the second ballot in this round (highest number of votes received)
were: Estonia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mexico, and Mali.


4. (U) With the election completed, the full 21-member World
Heritage Committee now has the following composition:

- Group I (North America/Europe):
Sweden
France (new)
Switzerland (new)


- Group II (Eastern Europe):
Estonia (new)
Russia (new)

- Group III (GRULAC - Latin America and Caribbean):
Mexico (new)
Barbados
Brazil

- Group IV (ASPAC - Asia - Pacific):
Cambodia (new)
Thailand (new)
Australia
China

- Group V(a) (Sub-Saharan Africa):
Ethiopia (new)
Mali (new)
South Africa (new)
Nigeria

- Group V(b) (Arab states):
Iraq (new)
United Arab Emirates (new)
Egypt
Jordan
Bahrain


5. (SBU) Comment: Overall, from a U.S. perspective, the results of
the elections are positive and should result in a WH Committee that
is more geographically balanced and that could remain politically
moderate. Iran was not elected, having received 44 votes, just
three votes short of capturing a seat. Both Cambodia and Thailand
were elected to the WH Committee, keeping some balance, but also
guaranteeing future debates on the Preah Vihear temple site, over
which the two countries have had recent military skirmishes.
Russia's election will not help U.S. concerns regarding the
treatment of sites in Kosovo, originally nominated by Serbia.
However, the election of four states that recognize Kosovo (UAE,
Switzerland, France, and Estonia) will hopefully bring some balance
to those discussions. The UAE and Iraq have increased the strong
Arab presence now on the WH Committee, which could create
difficulties for Israel, given the past disputes between Jordan and
Israel concerning the reconstruction of the ascent to the Mughrabi
Gate at Jerusalem's Temple Mount site. The next meeting of the World
Heritage Committee is scheduled to take place in Brasilia beginning
July 25, 2010. The United States, though no longer a Committee
member, will send an observer delegation, as voting will take place
on the two U.S. sites nominated for inscription, Mount Vernon and
Hawaii's Papahanaumokuakea marine reserve.

KILLION