Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARISFR219
2009-02-12 12:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission UNESCO
Cable title:
DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION: BRAZIL SEEKS VIEW OF THE NEW
how-toUNCLASSIFIEDÂ Â Â UNESCOPARIÂ Â Â 02120219 VZCZCXRO0124 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHFR #0219 0431254 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121254Z FEB 09 FM UNESCO PARIS FR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS PARIS FR 000219
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNESCO BR
SUBJECT: DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION: BRAZIL SEEKS VIEW OF THE NEW
U.S. ADMINISTRATION
REF: 08 STATE 130914
UNCLAS PARIS FR 000219
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNESCO BR
SUBJECT: DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION: BRAZIL SEEKS VIEW OF THE NEW
U.S. ADMINISTRATION
REF: 08 STATE 130914
1. (SBU) Brazil's UNESCO Ambassador Joao Carlos de Souza-Gomes asked
to see Charge urgently February 11 to discuss the UNESCO
Director-General race. Ambassador Souza-Gomes had a copy of the
talking points in our December demarche on this issue (reftel) and
wanted to know whether the assessment in them of Farouq Hosny, the
Egyptian candidate, represented the view of the last Administration
or the new one. He said Brazil is seriously considering whether or
not to enter a candidate in the race, but does not want to do so
until it is confident the new U.S. Administration will maintain U.S.
opposition to Hosny. The Ambassador felt that a Brazilian candidate
could get the support of Japan, India, China, South Africa, the
Lusophone African states, as well as some countries in Latin America
and Western Europe, but the key country is the U.S.
2. (SBU) Charge undertook to inform Ambassador Souza-Gomes as soon
as the Administration has come to a view on this subject. He agreed
that support for Hosny is soft and could well fall apart under
pressure. He added that whatever endorsement the African Union
Summit may have given to Hosny may not have much effect on how
Africans vote in a secret ballot.
3. (SBU) Comment: We think Ambassador Souza-Gomes was "rounding up"
a bit when he enumerated states that would be likely to support a
Brazilian candidate. However, he is not wrong in saying many of the
largest states and most influential donors (e.g., Japan, Russia,
China, India, Brazil, and most European Union members) do not
support Hosny and cannot easily be ignored.
ENGELKEN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNESCO BR
SUBJECT: DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION: BRAZIL SEEKS VIEW OF THE NEW
U.S. ADMINISTRATION
REF: 08 STATE 130914
1. (SBU) Brazil's UNESCO Ambassador Joao Carlos de Souza-Gomes asked
to see Charge urgently February 11 to discuss the UNESCO
Director-General race. Ambassador Souza-Gomes had a copy of the
talking points in our December demarche on this issue (reftel) and
wanted to know whether the assessment in them of Farouq Hosny, the
Egyptian candidate, represented the view of the last Administration
or the new one. He said Brazil is seriously considering whether or
not to enter a candidate in the race, but does not want to do so
until it is confident the new U.S. Administration will maintain U.S.
opposition to Hosny. The Ambassador felt that a Brazilian candidate
could get the support of Japan, India, China, South Africa, the
Lusophone African states, as well as some countries in Latin America
and Western Europe, but the key country is the U.S.
2. (SBU) Charge undertook to inform Ambassador Souza-Gomes as soon
as the Administration has come to a view on this subject. He agreed
that support for Hosny is soft and could well fall apart under
pressure. He added that whatever endorsement the African Union
Summit may have given to Hosny may not have much effect on how
Africans vote in a secret ballot.
3. (SBU) Comment: We think Ambassador Souza-Gomes was "rounding up"
a bit when he enumerated states that would be likely to support a
Brazilian candidate. However, he is not wrong in saying many of the
largest states and most influential donors (e.g., Japan, Russia,
China, India, Brazil, and most European Union members) do not
support Hosny and cannot easily be ignored.
ENGELKEN