CHILE SUPPORTS EGYPTIAN CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000770

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/UNESCO K SIEKMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO CI
SUBJECT: CHILE SUPPORTS EGYPTIAN CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO
DIRECTOR GENERAL

REF: STATE 82575


1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Jorge Ossa,
Deputy Director of Elections in the Bureau of Multilateral
Affairs. Ossa told Poloff that Chile has already declared
its support for Egyptian candidate Farouk Hosni. Ossa added
that Chile's decision to support Hosni is based entirely on
the tradition of geographic rotation. He acknowledged
concerns about Farouk's public statements concerning Israel,
but said the Arab region is next in line for the Director
General position.


2. (SBU) Ossa noted that it will not be easy for anyone to
obtain a majority because there are nine candidates running.
He said he was unaware of the positions of other Latin
American countries, and mentioned that Ecuador already knows
Chile will support the Egyptian candidate.
SIMONS