Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT694
2009-08-14 12:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
how-toVZCZCXRO2511 PP RUEHFL RUEHKN RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHQU RUEHRN RUEHSL RUEHTRO DE RUEHRB #0694 2261200 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141200Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0557 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUCNSCO/UNESCO COLLECTIVE
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).
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
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