Cablegate: Unesco: Cultural Diversity Convention:

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

221429Z Dec 05

UNCLAS PARIS 008610

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO SCUL ETRD CJAN TBIO FR SU AF
SUBJECT: UNESCO: Cultural Diversity Convention:
Proponents Proceed With Ratification Strategy

REF: A) Paris 8280; B) Paris 6814; C) Paris 7715

1. (SBU) The Cultural Diversity Convention's
proponents continue to carry out a multi-faceted
ratification strategy (Refs A and B). Kader Asmal, who
advocated for the Convention from his position as Chair
of the UNESCO negotiations, is reportedly to "consult"
with developing countries and urge ratification of the
Convention. Meanwhile, proponents plump for the
Convention at meetings around the world. End summary

2. (SBU) Kader Asmal, the South African Chair of
UNESCO Cultural Diversity talks is rumored to be lined
up for UNESCO-financed consultancies with developing
countries to assist in the development of cultural
policies, including ratification of the Cultural
Diversity Convention. (Note. Official UNESCO sources
deny the rumors. End Note.)

--French President Jacques Chirac personally
awarded the prestigious French Legion d'Honneur to
Asmal 20 December, citing Asmal's role in the formation
of the Convention.

3. (SBU) UNESCO Secretary General Matsuura will lead a
12-15 person delegation to Khartoum, which UNESCO has
named as the Arab Cultural Capital for 2005 (Ref C), to
attend a 23-24 January African Culture Summit,
organized by the African Union, and likely to feature
encouragements to ratify the Convention (Refs A and B).

4. (SBU) East Asian meetings are also part of the
picture.

--Vietnam. Reports of a 14-15 November Conference
in Hanoi on the Cultural Diversity Convention indicate
that French and Canadian speakers pitched the
Convention

--China. A 9 November conference in Hangzhou,
styled in news reports as the third Globalization
Forum, reportedly drew 180 attendees and focused on
cultural diversity.

5. (SBU) However, in separate 2 December meetings,
Chinese and South Korean UNESCO reps predicted to
poloff that the Cultural Diversity Convention would not
be ratified in the near future in their respective
countries, given complex ratification procedures. The
South Korean rep also cited a standoff between South
Korean trade officials, who opposed to the Convention,
and Culture officials and domestic lobbying groups, who
favored it. End note.)

6. (SBU) We are fairly certain that we catch only
glimpses of the full ratification efforts, the bulk of
which now take place in capitals. Many of poloff's
normally voluble African contacts evaded inquiries
about the African meetings.

7. (SBU) Comment. Now that the Convention has been
formally adopted, the action on this seems to have
shifted from UNESCO Paris headquarters to capitals
considering ratification of the Convention.

Koss

© Scoop Media