DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000694 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO KELLY SIEKMAN AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2029 TAGS: PREL UNESCO MO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELECTION REF: STATE 082701 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) On August 13, Charge and A/PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Director General for Multilateral Affairs Ambassador Nasser Bourita. Bourita discussed the relative merits of several of the candidates, and expressed the sentiment that it was Arab group's turn to head UNESCO. As expected, he stated that Morocco would support the Egyptian candidate in the first round. ¶2. (C) Bourita acknowledged, however, that he was not convinced that Farouk Hosni was the best candidate for the position. However, Egypt has supported the Moroccan position vis-a-vis the Western Sahara. Bourita thought that Austrian candidate Benita Ferrero-Waldner was particularly well-qualified, and offered that if voting went to a second round, she would likely garner the Moroccan vote. He estimated that she would probably receive 22 votes in the first round to Mr. Hosni,s 18. ¶3. (C) Discussing other candidates, Bourita noted that he was scheduled to meet with Bulgarian and Ecuadoran representatives in the near future to discuss the candidates from their respective countries. He added that Morocco could not support the Algerian or Tanzanian because of their stance on Western Sahara, and that the Beninese candidate does not have his government,s support. Bourita opined that the Ecuadoran, who claims Arab ancestry, could emerge as a compromise candidate. He also said that Morocco would consider putting Ambassador Bennani,s name forward again if no consensus emerged. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson