Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO29
2009-01-07 07:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN TO WAIT FOR OTHER UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1074 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0029 0070736 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 070736Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9859 INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0330 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 1722 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 4073 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 5509 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 2282 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3461 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3160
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000029
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO KELLY SIEKMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PREL UNESCO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO WAIT FOR OTHER UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
NOMINATIONS
REF: 08 STATE 12958
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000029
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO KELLY SIEKMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PREL UNESCO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO WAIT FOR OTHER UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
NOMINATIONS
REF: 08 STATE 12958
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) Japan has stated it will wait before declaring
support for a candidate for the UNESCO Director-General
position. According to Yoshio Ando, Director of MITI's
Multilateral Cultural Cooperation Division, Japan hopes that
a candidate will be chosen who can continue the reform
efforts undertaken by the present Director-General, Koichiro
Matsuura. Ando went on to state that the Government of Japan
was sympathetic to U.S. concerns about the Egyptian
candidate, Culture Minister Farouk Hosni. Ando said that he
personally, based on his previous assignment in Egypt, agreed
with the U.S. assessment of Hosni who he said was, "the King
of Corruption."
2. (C) Director Ando went on to add that based on his
conversations with other delegations the U.S. campaign
against the Egyptian candidate was being perceived as
"anti-Islamic, and pro-Israeli." He said momentum was
building for Hosni's candidacy and "U.S. efforts to stop the
nomination would be more effective if they came from another
quarter, if they were raised by other countries than the U.S.
and Israel." He also speculated as to whether there might be
a more acceptable Egyptian compromise candidate, such as
Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO KELLY SIEKMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PREL UNESCO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO WAIT FOR OTHER UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
NOMINATIONS
REF: 08 STATE 12958
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) Japan has stated it will wait before declaring
support for a candidate for the UNESCO Director-General
position. According to Yoshio Ando, Director of MITI's
Multilateral Cultural Cooperation Division, Japan hopes that
a candidate will be chosen who can continue the reform
efforts undertaken by the present Director-General, Koichiro
Matsuura. Ando went on to state that the Government of Japan
was sympathetic to U.S. concerns about the Egyptian
candidate, Culture Minister Farouk Hosni. Ando said that he
personally, based on his previous assignment in Egypt, agreed
with the U.S. assessment of Hosni who he said was, "the King
of Corruption."
2. (C) Director Ando went on to add that based on his
conversations with other delegations the U.S. campaign
against the Egyptian candidate was being perceived as
"anti-Islamic, and pro-Israeli." He said momentum was
building for Hosni's candidacy and "U.S. efforts to stop the
nomination would be more effective if they came from another
quarter, if they were raised by other countries than the U.S.
and Israel." He also speculated as to whether there might be
a more acceptable Egyptian compromise candidate, such as
Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria.
SCHIEFFER