US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9146

UNCLAS AMMAN 009146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA/MST - A. WHITTEN 
STATE ALSO FOR IO/T - J. COWLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, ECON, JO, WTO, UNESCO 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF UNESCO DRAFT 
CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION: JORDAN 
 
REF: STATE 238056 
 
1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Emboffs November 10 delivered reftel 
demarche to key contacts in the Ministry of Industry and 
Trade and to the International Organizations Department in 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  To the extent that Jordan 
engages in the UNESCO process, we can expect a sympathetic 
response from the Government of Jordan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU)  At the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) the 
deputy of the trade policy department and the WTO legal 
advisor reviewed the three main points of reftel demarche, 
noting their ready understanding that the specified draft 
articles and phrases in the UNESCO convention could be in 
conflict with or cloud obligations made by Jordan under the 
WTO and the U.S.-Jordan FTA. 
 
3.  (SBU)  The trade policy deputy stated that Jordan fully 
understands the U.S. concerns and would study the demarche 
further the same day so as to formulate a final position.  He 
indicated that the Ministry of Trade would seek quickly to 
have the government's position communicated to Jordan's 
embassy in Paris.  (NOTE:  Jordan will celebrate the end of 
Ramadan this weekend through November 16.  Any action from 
the capital to submit comments to UNESCO by November 15 would 
have to come by Thursday, the last workday of the week before 
the long holiday.  END NOTE.)  Embassy also forwarded the 
demarche to the MFA International Organizations Department, 
and encouraged consultation among the MFA, MOIT, and the 
Ministry of Culture. 
HALE