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

190926Z Jan 06

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000341 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/UNESCO DOUGLAS ROHN, FOR IO/S GEORGE ABRAHAM, 
FOR OES LIZ TIRPAK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2016 
TAGS: AORC SCUL SOCI UNESCO KSA
SUBJECT:  UNESCO:  AMBASSADOR USES JANUARY 16 MEETING WITH 
DG MATSURA TO PRESS US GOALS IN PROGRAMS, HIRING; PRIZE TO 
CHAVEZ A KEY CONCERN 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Classified by N. Cooper Acting Deputy Chief of 
Mission, reasons 1.4.(D) 
 
¶2.  (C)  Summary and Comment:  Ambassador Louise V. Oliver's 
January 16 meeting with UNESCO DG MATSUURA focused on USG 
program priorities including literacy (and the Honorary 
Ambassador role of the First Lady) and U.S. participation in 
the review panel for the Social and Human Sciences and the 
Natural Sciences sectors.  The Ambassador and the DG also 
exchanged views on the upcoming MOST conference in Buenos 
Aires.  On personnel matters, the Ambassador underlined the 
importance of ensuring that the next Assistant Director 
General for Culture does not come from a country that was a 
prime mover behind the Cultural Diversity Convention.  The 
Ambassador stressed Washington's concern over the recent 
decision to award UNESCO's Marti Prize to Venezuelan 
President Hugo Chavez; the DG expressed regret at the 
decision, but appeared to have been trapped; the nomination 
had been advanced by seven member states. 
 
¶3.  (C) The meeting was substantive and cordial, covering a 
lot of ground.  The Ambassador told the DG that Washington 
is willing to support continued active participation at 
UNESCO as long as no further issues/debates -- similar to 
the Cultural Diversity Convention -- cause major concern. 
The DG clearly understands what is at stake.  He emphasized 
that he has to make decisions that he can defend.  The 
Ambassador stressed in turn her determination to ensure that 
the DG understands in advance where potential problems may 
lie -- from the U.S. point of view -- so that he can manage 
potential areas of discord appropriately.  End Summary and 
Comment. 
 
DG SENDS KUDOS TO U.S. DELEGATION TO CARIBBEAN TSUNAMI 
CONCLAVE 
 
¶4.  (U) The DG opened the meeting by praising the quality of 
the U.S. delegation to the recent Barbados IOC meeting to 
establish a tsunami mitigation system in the Caribbean. 
Describing the delegation as "excellent", he gave the 
Ambassador a copy of the speech he delivered at the 
conference, saying that he intends to send a note to the 
First Lady, given the interest that she expressed in tsunami 
issues during their meeting in February 2005. 
 
EDUCATION:  A LEADING ROLE FOR THE FIRST LADY 
 
¶5.  (U) Literacy:  The Ambassador noted the First Lady's 
interest in taking a more high-profile role in UNESCO's 
literacy program.  The DG  reported that Education Assistant 
Director Peter Smith had told him about the First Lady's 
visit to Nigeria; he expressed regret that there was not 
much to see on the ground to represent UNESCO's investment 
in  Nigerian schools, since UNESCO works at a higher, policy 
level in that country.  Ambassador Oliver noted that Nigeria 
is in the first group of target countries for the literacy 
program, and that there will doubtless be other 
opportunities for the First lady to make similar visits in 
the future.   The DG reported that Education ADG Smith had 
also mentioned a possible high-level conference for the 
spouses of Presidents in May.  The Ambassador explained that 
that is part of an effort to build political will in 
countries for literacy initiatives, but that no firm 
decision has been made and no date determined yet.  (Note: 
The Ambassador asked ADG Smith whether a September meeting 
in New York would work and he replied that it would as long 
as the date was not too close to that of the September 26- 
October 12 Executive Board.  End Note.) 
 
THE MARTI PRIZE TO CHAVEZ:  A POINT OF DISCORD 
 
¶6. (C) Marti Prize:  The Ambassador told the DG that the 
decision to bestow UNESCO's Marti prize on Venezuela 
President Hugo Chavez is of great concern to Washington. 
The DG said he did not know about it until after it had 
happened.  The Ambassador replied that this constituted a 
direct challenge to both the DG and U.S.:  A challenge to 
the DG because it was done without his knowledge, and to the 
U.S. because Chavez was chosen.  The DG said that his first 
instinct had been to set aside the decision, but that he was 
advised by his staff not to do so, in part because six other 
countries had joined in the nomination; he agreed that it 
was a "coordinated set-up".  The Ambassador said that the DG 
should have overturned the decision, because this was the 
first time a UNESCO prize had been given to a politician. 
The DG demurred, saying that other UNESCO prizes, like its 
Peace prize, had been awarded to politicians.  The 
Ambassador stressed that if UNESCO gives prizes to 
politicians, the decision-making process must be tightly 
controlled:  UNESCO is supposed to be a technical agency 
working at the experts' and technical level, and not a 
political body, as in New York.  The import of the issue is 
larger than that of prizes.  What is UNESCO's responsibility 
for prizes, institutes, etc. that bear the UNESCO name? 
UNESCO cannot allow its name to be used and then claim it 
has no responsibility for decisions made on prizes and for 
work done by institutes bearing its name.  UNESCO cannot 
allow its name to be used and then claim it has no 
responsibility for the consequences.  The Ambassador assured 
the DG that she would raise these questions at the January 
19 Executive Board Meeting with the DG.  The DG concluded by 
saying that he thought he had made a mistake in allowing 
Chavez's name to go forward and that he would try to 
minimize the impact of the prize.  He noted the involvement 
of ADG for Social and Human Sciences Pierre Sane in the 
Chavez decision, expressing his displeasure. 
 
¶7.  (C) The DG said that he had visited several of the 
Caribbean islands as part of his trip to Barbados for the 
tsunami conference, including St. Lucia and St. Kitts, now 
 
SIPDIS 
on the Executive Board.  He noted that Cuba and Venezuela 
are making a big push in the Caribbean by offering free 
medical care and flying patients for treatment and doctors 
for training to Cuba for free.  He said the U.S. should be 
concerned about this and that we should promote our positive 
involvement in Caribbean tsunami work.  He noted Japan's 
increased focus on the Caribbean. 
 
NATURAL AND SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES:  U.S. ROLE IN REVIEW 
 
¶8. (C)  Science Review:  The Ambassador asked about the 
planned review of the SHS and Natural Science sectors -- 
mandated by the October 2005 General Conference -- querying 
the DG on when decisions will be made on membership.  The DG 
replied that the delay was due to the fact that some 
geographical groups had been slow in submitting names: 
GRULAC has just submitted its nominations, and the African 
group submitted only one name despite being asked for two. 
The first meeting of the Review panel will take place in 
late February 2006, so membership decisions will be made 
before then.  DG said many Ambassadors have sought meetings 
with him to push their candidates, but that NSF Deputy 
Director Olsen would definitely figure on the panel.  (Note: 
Group I submitted the names of seven candidates.  Given the 
paucity of candidates from the Africa Group, might 
Washington have a name to suggest?  End Note.) 
 
¶9. (C) MOST:  The Ambassador expressed concern about the 
size (more than 1,000 participants invited) and planned high 
profile of the February 2006 MOST meeting that will take 
place in Buenos Aires and several other Latin American 
cities.  She indicated that the outcome document will be of 
critical importance.  The U.S. does not want to see an 
expansion of this initiative.  Although we recognize that 
social sciences are an important part of the sciences, we do 
not want to see the MOST program expanded as it is not a 
priority for UNESCO.  She informed the DG that the U.S. 
would send a State Department officer and a National 
Commission member to the meeting.  The DG responded that he 
planned to send Deputy Director General Barbosa to the 
meeting to "keep control of it."  He added that he had asked 
SHS ADG Sane to invite more Americans. 
 
PERSONNEL ISSUES CRUCIAL TO SET THE STAGE FOR U.S. 
OBJECTIVES 
 
¶10. (C) ADG Culture:  Referring to her December 2005 
conversation with the DG, The Ambassador reiterated USG 
concern about the choice of the new ADG for Culture.  Unlike 
the Chavez decision -- which involved other players -- the 
ADG decision is the DG's alone to make, and he will be held 
responsible for it.   The Ambassador underlined concerns 
about the symbolism of the choice, citing rumors that the 
position was "wired" for Francoise Riviere.  The DG denied 
the rumors, saying that Riviere knew that she might not be 
chosen, and that the French government was not pushing her 
as a candidate.  The Ambassador remarked that if this latter 
assertion were reported to Washington, few would believe it. 
The DG responded that he would insist on professional 
qualifications, and that there are ten candidates for him to 
consider (Comment:  same number cited by current ADG 
Bouchenaki.  End Comment.)  Ambassador Oliver expressed the 
hope that there is a qualified candidate for the position 
who is not currently working for UNESCO and who does not 
come from a country that was a key proponent of the Cultural 
Diversity Convention.  If this is not the case, the position 
should be re-competed.  It makes more sense to take extra 
time and choose the right person -- as was done in 
recruiting the ADG for Education -- than to choose the wrong 
person and have ongoing problems, the Ambassador counseled. 
¶11.  (C) Other personnel issues:  The Ambassador noted that 
the Capacity Building P5 position in Science Sector has 
still not been re-advertised, and told the DG that the U.S. 
will put forward a strong candidate.  The DG advised that 
the U.S. encourage more than one strong candidate to apply 
for the position. 
 
The Ambassador urged that the Democracy P5 position in the 
Information and Communication be competed externally, as it 
is a key position for the U.S., given our focus on democracy 
and the total absence of Americans in high-level positions 
in the CI Sector. 
 
The Ambassador expressed concerns about the process for 
recruiting the D1 Human Rights position in SHS, noting that 
that a highly qualified U.S. candidate had not made the 
short list.  Although we support a transparent hiring 
process, the fact is that those interviewing at the 
preliminary stages might have different criteria than the DG 
and might eliminate the wrong people.  DG recalled that in 
fact current ADG for Education Peter Smith had originally 
been eliminated.  He said that he has the authority to 
request that candidates be brought back into competition at 
the D1 level, and that he would take a close look at this 
U.S. candidate. 
 
The DG reported that he plans to consolidate the staffs of 
the General Conference and the Executive Board because the 
staff of the General Conference works hard only during the 
General Conference and had little to do the rest of the 
time. 
 
OLIVER