Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05PARIS6375, USUNESCO: MEETING WITH UK LAWYER ON CULTURAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05PARIS6375.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05PARIS6375 2005-09-19 17:50 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Paris
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 006375 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USTR BLISS, BALASSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SCUL ETRD EU UNESCO
SUBJECT:  USUNESCO:  MEETING WITH UK LAWYER ON CULTURAL 
DIVERSITY CONVENTION; CANADA TRIES TO HURRY THE PROCESS 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  USTR and Department lawyers met Monday 
with British and Japanese lawyers at UNESCO to discuss the 
preliminary draft convention on cultural diversity.  The UK 
indicated that they do not share our concerns and are 
prepared to bring the convention to a vote over US 
opposition.  The Japanese indicated that they share our 
concerns about deep legal flaws in the convention but may be 
willing to let it go forward with band aid fixes.  Meanwhile 
Canada is actively seeking support among executive board 
members for a draft resolution that will recommend that the 
general conference consider the convention a draft 
convention rather than a preliminary draft.  End summary. 
 
Meeting with UK Lawyer 
---------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) USTR associate general counsel Stanford McCoy and 
USMission Geneva lawyer Mike Peay met September 19 with 
Nicola Piccan a UK "cultural" lawyer.  (She did not come 
with name cards.)  UK Ambassador Tim Craddock led off by 
explaining that this meeting was motivated by the UK's 
concern over the bad impact that adoption of the convention 
could have on the US position in UNESCO.  He noted in that 
regard rumors circulating in Paris that the US would pull 
out of UNESCO if the convention were adopted. 
 
3. (SBU) The UK lawyer explained that they do not share US 
concerns about the convention.  According to Piccan the 
convention gives states wide discretion to adopt certain 
cultural measures, but does not mandate any particular 
actions that would be inconsistent with WTO or other 
agreements.  In this context, the UK takes comfort from 
Article 20 of the convention, governing the relationship to 
other instruments, paragraph 2 of which the UK views as 
expressly recognizing other agreements. 
 
4. (SBU) In response to US concerns, the UK del noted that 
the definitions in the convention, though broadly expressed, 
could not usefully be narrowed.  UK had decided that it 
could live with the definitions, particularly since they 
would be read in the context of other existing international 
agreements. 
 
5. (SBU) Regarding paragraph 1 of Article 20, UK felt that 
it expressed a desire to seek interpretations of the various 
obligations that do not clash with other international 
agreements.  UK del said the convention was not intended to, 
nor in its view did it conflict with trade agreements.  US 
del asked why US proposals to clarify this were not 
accepted.  The UK responded that they that article 20, para. 
2 made this sufficiently clear. 
 
6. (SBU) When asked about statements by French officials 
that France intends to use the convention to undermine WTO 
obligations, UK Ambassador Tim Craddock said that French 
motives are primarily limited to promoting French culture, 
especially within the Francophonie.  He indicated that trade 
and Doha were not central to French considerations. 
 
JAPAN 
----- 
 
7. (SBU) In an earlier meeting with Yasushi Masaki, Director 
of the Economic and Social Treaties Division of the Foreign 
Ministry, Masaki stated that Japan had difficulties in 
accepting the convention in its current form.  He emphasized 
the need for effective crisis management to reduce the harm 
done by the convention. 
 
8. (SBU) Japan, like the United States, is concerned about a 
"basket" of issues with the convention.  When asked to 
elaborate they identified Articles 6 and 20 (the Articles on 
which Japan made reservations) as the key problem areas on 
which Japan would concentrate its efforts.  They expressed 
concern to a lesser degree about vague definitions.  In 
response to questions from US del, they said they have many 
other issues with the convention that they would like to see 
addressed if the text were reopened, but for the time being 
they had decided to focus on their concerns regarding 
Articles 6 and 20. 
 
9. (SBU) Japan understands U.S. unhappiness with the current 
text and does not believe the United States will ratify the 
convention in its current form. Japan will support the U.S. 
"as much as possible" in seeking to continue the discussion. 
The dynamic in UNESCO has been to impose a draft text. 
Japan does not understand the rush, and thinks it is 
important to have a fair and complete discussion of their 
and our concerns about the text.  In addition, the 
unwillingness of supporters of the convention to have a 
dialogue with the WTO over obvious trade issues caused Japan 
to question the supporters' motives. 
 
10. (SBU) Japan also questioned whether there was true 
consensus on the current draft within the EC, and whether 
all EC members would actually ratify the convention.  Japan 
speculated that the real intentions behind the convention 
were political. 
 
"Pearls on a Pig" 
----------------- 
 
11. )SBU) Japan raised two possible ways of diminishing the 
negative effect of the convention if, despite all our joint 
efforts, it moves to final adoption.  The first was the 
possibility of a joint interpretive declaration by a number 
of countries stating that the convention is not intended to 
restrict trade but rather to promote cultural diversity 
within the UNESCO context.  The second was a review process 
through which the convention's flaws could be revisited. 
 
12. (SBU) US del jested that this brought to mind an old 
American adage about putting lipstick on a pig. 
Acknowledging that this approach was not ideal, Japan noted 
that the Japanese expression is "putting pearls on a pig." 
 
13. (SBU)  US del noted possible problems with Japan's 
suggested approach, such as the difficulty of obtaining wide 
enough agreement on a statement for it to have weight under 
customary international law of treaty interpretation. 
Nonetheless, US del said it would report back Japan's 
constructive thoughts on possible solutions. 
 
14. ()SBU) This discussion suggested that Japan might be 
actively looking for a way out for itself and the Japanese 
DG through "solutions" that seek to minimize damage from the 
convention, but do not address its basic flaws.  When US del 
urged Japan not to be "fatalistic," Japan agreed that it 
would be "better" to delay adoption, but this view was 
"heresy" and not likely to carry the day given the character 
of discussions in UNESCO. 
 
Canada launches a preemptive strike 
 
15. (SBU) Meanwhile, Canada has been circulating a draft 
resolution to executive board members that contains operant 
language that the executive board, "Recommends that the 
general conference at its 33rd session consider the said 
preliminary draft as a draft convention and adopt it as a 
UNESCO convention."  We know that Ukraine, Tanzania and 
Senegal have already signed (as well as the 8 EU members on 
the board) and we expect that many other executive board 
members have also co-signed.  (Note the board has 
 
16. (SBU) Comment.  The UK's concern about a possible US 
pull-out from UNESCO does not seem to extend to allowing the 
convention to be reopened to get it right.  Continued 
pressure needs to applied on London to get the UK to back 
away from its absolutist position.  When the US left UNESCO 
in 1984 the British left shortly after to protest the "new 
world information order."  The cultural diversity convention 
is the new world information order all over again. 
 
17. (SBU) Comment continued.  We are also concerned that 
Japan will not stick with the US and will seek to give the 
director general a face saving way out. 
 
18. (SBU) Comment continued.  The Canadian draft resolution 
may indicate a concern that the June convention draft does 
not meet the general conference rule that conventions must 
be finished seven months before the general conference. 
While a different draft was finished in March, it could be 
argued that the June version does not meet the deadline. 
Pressure will need to be applied in capitals of executive 
board members to get their delegation to either not co- 
sponsor or remove their sponsorship. 
 
Oliver