Cablegate: Usunesco: Unesco Chooses Khartoum As Arab

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PARIS 007715

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION TO UNESCO

E.O.: 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SU UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: UNESCO CHOOSES KHARTOUM AS ARAB
CULTURAL CAPITAL 2005

1. On November 9, Director General Matsuura presided
over a series of events at UNESCO headquarters to mark
the naming of Khartoum as "Arab Cultural Capital 2005."
The events included discussions on Nubian archaeology
and a performance of Sudanese music. According to an
earlier UNESCO press release the event was organized by
the Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural
Dialogue in cooperation with the permanent delegation
of Sudan to UNESCO and the Arab Group at UNESCO, as
part of UNESCO's Arabia Plan, which promotes dialogue
between Arab culture and other cultures in the world.

2. During his remarks at the opening, the Director
General said, "Finally the Organization is today
joining other UN agencies.in the international
community's efforts to establish the basis for a
lasting peace." . (UNESCO) "will promote respect for
the cultural diversity of the whole population in the
North as well as in the South."

3. Previous Arab cultural capitals were: Riyadh
(2000), Kuwait City (2001), Amman (2002), Rabat (2003)
and Sanaa (2004). The next Arab cultural capitals will
be: Oman (2006) and Algiers (2007).

4. Comment: UNESCO has a good track record using
education, science and culture to promote Mideast peace
and may be able to play a role in promoting Sudanese
reconciliation. Still, given Sudan's record of
genocide and other unmentionables, we are troubled that
UNESCO has chosen to highlight Sudanese culture in such
a positive light and that the Director General chose to
associate himself with this event.

KOSS

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