VZCZCXYZ4475
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKA #0288 0640401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040401Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6374
INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0663
UNCLAS DHAKA 000288
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USMISSION GENEVA FOR US REPRESENTATIVE TO WIPO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON POL ETRD PREL KIPR BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH SEEKS SUPPORT FOR WIPO DIRECTOR GENERAL
CANDIDATE
REF: DHAKA 00266
1. (SBU) Bangladesh requests U.S. support for the candidature
of Dr. Taufiq Ali for the position of Director General of the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
2. (U) At the upcoming 83-Member Coordination Committee of
WIPO in Geneva from May 12-14 2008, Bangladesh will nominate
Dr. Taufiq Ali (Bangladesh's former Permanent Representative
at the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva) for the position of WIPO
Director General.
3. (SBU) NOTE: Bangladesh fails to adequately protect
international intellectual property rights within its
borders. Post concurs with US industry representatives and
the US Foreign Commercial Service's regional attache's
recommendation that Bangladesh be placed on the USTR's
Special 301 Watch List. (REFTEL) Given this, we believe it
would send a mixed signal to appoint a Bangladeshi candidate
for the WIPO DG position. END NOTE
Pasi