U.S. PRESENTS TO UNESCO DEPOSITARY ITS INSTRUMENT OF

UNCLAS PARIS FR 000380 US MISSION UNESCO PARIS SIPDIS PASS TO L/PM (DEEKS); DOD OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL (HPARKS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNESCO SCUL KTIA SUBJECT: U.S. PRESENTS TO UNESCO DEPOSITARY ITS INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION OF THE 1954 HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF ARMED CONFLICT. ¶1. On Friday, March 13, 2009, U.S. Mission Charg d'Affaires, a.i., Stephen Engelken presented the U.S. instrument of ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict to the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, in his capacity as the Depositary for this Convention. Charg was accompanied by Mission's Senior Legal Adviser, T. Michael Peay. The deposit of the U.S. instrument took place at UNESCO's Headquarters in Paris. The instrument was transmitted under a cover note that will enable the Convention to enter into force immediately, pursuant to the relevant provisions of Article 33(3) of the Convention. The text of the cover note is set forth below in paragraph 3. ¶2. The next step is for the UNESCO Director-General (D-G) to inform "by the speediest method" all other States Parties, as well as the United Nations, of the deposit of the U.S. instrument of ratification, which the Director-General undertook to do during the course of informal exchange of views in his office on the occasion of the deposit. Mr. Matsuura clearly took great pleasure in receiving the U.S. ratification instrument and noted that it had been signed by former President George W. Bush. He said, half joking and half serious, that he looked forward to receiving more U.S. instruments of ratification of other UNESCO conventions, a clear reference to three other instruments with respect to which the D-G is aware that the U.S. has not been particularly well-disposed. These are: the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; and the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Charg deftly evaded that comment, making no commitments. The D-G's follow-on comments implied that he is hoping the U.S. may be willing to consider joining the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). But, as the discussion developed further he seemed to understand that it was not likely the U.S. would consider joining the UCH Convention before joining the UN Law of the Sea Convention. ¶3. Begin Text of U.S. Cover Note: The United States of America has the pleasure to respectfully submit the attached United States instrument of ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The United States of America requests that this instrument of ratification be given immediate effect in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article 33(3) of that Convention. Accordingly, the United States respectfully requests that the Director-General, in his capacity as Depositary for the Convention, transmit the communications referred to in Article 38 of the Convention by the speediest method. The Permanent Delegation of the United States of America to UNESCO avails itself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration to the Director-General of UNESCO. Paris, 13 March 2009 End Text of U.S. Cover Note. ENGELKEN