C O N F I D E N T I A L   UNESCOPARI   12232314 
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RR RUEHFL RUEHKN RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHQU RUEHRN
DE RUEHFR #2314/01 3581034
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231034Z DEC 08
FM UNESCO PARIS FR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
RUCNSCO/UNESCO COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS FR 002314 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL: 12/23/2018 
TAGS: PREL UNESCO EZ JA
SUBJECT: A/S HOOK'S MEETINGS WITH CZECH AND JAPANESE AMBASSADORS TO 
UNESCO 
 
Classified by Ambassador Louise V. Oliver for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Both the Japanese and Czech Ambassadors to UNESCO 
clearly signaled to A/S Hook their opposition to Egyptian Culture 
Minister Hosni's candidacy for UNESCO Director General.  The Czech 
Ambassador pushed for opening the race to new candidates and stressed 
the need for a top-level communicator.  Japan's Ambassador Yamamoto 
believed we must oppose Hosni, but stressed that Japan was reluctant 
to get out in front, fearful of being seen as a mouthpiece for the 
current DG Matsuura.  He also said that he did not see any good 
candidates among those who have announced for the moment, and is 
skeptical that someone from the Middle East could replace the 
Egyptian.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) IO Assistant Secretary Brian Hook met separately with the 
Czech Ambassador to UNESCO, Petr Janyska and Japan's Ambassador to 
UNESCO, Tadamichi Yamamoto on 11 December 2008 in the U.S. 
Delegation's offices at UNESCO headquarters.  DCM Stephen Engelken 
and Mission staffer David Ostroff, along with IO special assistant 
Erin McLinn were present. 
 
Czech Views on UNESCO 
 
¶3. (C) A/S Hook found both the Czech and Japanese preoccupied by the 
question of who should succeed UNESCO's current Director General 
Matsuura when Matsuura's term ends in autumn 2009.  Czech Ambassador 
Janyska said we need someone who brings a higher level of visibility 
to UNESCO than Matsuura has done -- someone with greater 
communication skills who could help fortify the UNESCO "brand" in the 
future.  Hook agreed that other UN agencies, notably, UNICEF, were 
particularly strong on the concept of branding and, as a result, were 
more effective in their fundraising efforts. 
 
¶4.  (C) The Czech added that he felt the new person should not be 
necessarily linked to a region, but that UNESCO needs a "big name", 
an international figure who is accustomed to meeting the press.  When 
A/S Hook asked who might be a good candidate, Janyska said that he 
had asked Vaclav Havel twice, but he is not in good enough health to 
consider the job.  Janyska threw out the name Bill Gates as the kind 
of person who could dramatically raise the bar at UESCO. 
 
¶5.  (C) When Hook then asked Janyska if he had other ideas or if he 
could ask Havel if he could recommend someone, Janyska replied by 
saying that the race is open, even if the Arabs think they are the 
ones who have it sewn up for this go-around.  Janyska said that the 
Egyptians are "pushing hard" for Hosni.  Hook answered that we, in 
turn, need to push back. 
 
¶6.  (C) Janyska observed that Egypt would surely be lobbying hard 
ahead of the African Union summit (Jan 26 - Feb 3 in Addis Ababa). 
A/S Hook assured him that we will be urging African states to refrain 
from moving to an early endorsement of any candidate.  Janyska 
agreed, and added that we need to avoid a North-South clash regarding 
the DG election.  Janyska then added that it is important to make 
clear to the Egyptians that even if they field another candidate 
other than Hosni, they should not expect that they will be 
automatically supported. 
 
Japanese Thoughts 
 
¶7.  (C) Japanese Ambassador Yamamoto was equally opposed to Hosni. 
Yamamoto said that the Japanese are working hard to be discreet, as 
they don't want their anti-Hosni position to become public knowledge. 
 Yamamoto added that it is important that others don't think that 
Japan is "channeling" the views of DG Matsuura on the subject.  He 
went on to say that Japan has been straight-forward with the U.S. and 
France, and that it shares our concerns.   Ambassador Yamamoto said 
that it is important that Matsuura's reforms not be compromised, as 
it would be detrimental to the organization in terms of improving 
quality of life issues, adding that the Japanese would like to have 
UNESCO seen as a useful organization, even for developed countries. 
 
¶8.  (C) Yamamoto said that Japan isn't interested in having the next 
DG be selected based on region, but stressed that the quality and 
capacity of the person is key. The Japanese do not see anyone fitting 
the bill at the moment. 
 
¶9.  (C) A/S Hook told Yamamoto that if Egypt's President Mubarak is 
personally engaged regarding Hosni's candidature then we, too, must 
be "on the offensive".  Hook emphasized that UNESCO's work and 
Matsuura's legacy must be protected, or we risk moving back to the 
"bad old days" of division and conflict.  Hook then mentioned that he 
would be talking with the French later in the day to see if calls 
could be made to senior French officials in an effort to convince the 
French to "walk back" their pledge to support Hosni. 
 
¶10.  (C) Like his Czech colleague, Yamamoto raised the importance of 
stopping the African Union from endorsing Hosni during its January 
summit meeting.  Hook agreed heartily, saying that we need to break 
consensus at the A.U. meeting, though it is also extremely important 
at the same time to work on identifying an alternative candidate that 
 
UNESCOPARI 12232314  002 OF 002 
 
people can get behind.  Yamamoto then said that we must give Egypt 
the option of switching candidates, as well, adding that he is, 
however, skeptical about finding a good candidate from the Middle 
East right now. 
 
OLIVER