BALTIC STATES PRESENT THEIR CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000047 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNESCO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC UNESCO LH SUBJECT: BALTIC STATES PRESENT THEIR CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO DG TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS REF: 08 VILNIUS 428 ¶1. Summary: Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas on January 21 presented Lithuania's UNESCO Ambassador Ina Marciulionyte as the three Baltic states' common choice to become UNESCO's next Director General, and sought support for her candidacy from foreign ambassadors resident in Vilnius. End summary. ¶2. Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas met with foreign ambassadors January 21 to present to them Lithuania's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ina Marciulionyte, whom the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia support in the race for Director General of UNESCO. Usackas said 2009 was a symbolic and appropriate year for a Lithuanian to run for one of the world's most important cultural-policy positions as Lithuania is celebrating the millennium of its name and also has been declared this year's European Capital of Culture. Usackas said, "Marciulionyte has versatile work experience in the areas of education and science, as well as in culture" and called her "one of the best candidates" for the top UNESCO post. He asked the ambassadors for their countries' support of Marciulionyte's candidacy. ¶3. Marciulionyte has served as Lithuania's ambassador and permanent representative to UNESCO since 2003 and is currently a Vice Chairperson of UNESCO's Executive Board. She has represented Lithuania on the World Heritage Committee since 2004, and chaired its 30th session from 2005 to 2006. She previously served as the GOL's Vice Minister of Culture, as a journalist and as director of the cultural program of the Open Society Fund of Lithuania. CLOUD