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