US embassy cable - 05PARIS6709

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2015 
TAGS: SCUL, ETRD, EU, UNESCO 
SUBJECT:  (C) USUNESCO:  CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION, 
EU TIGHTENS THE SCREWS ON ISRAEL 
 
Ref:  a) Paris 6376 (notal), b) Paris 6547 (notal) 
 
1.  (C) Classified by Andrew C. Koss, Deputy Chief of 
Mission, U.S. Mission to UNESCO in Paris, reason 1.4 (b 
and (d). 
 
2. (C) The EU group at UNESCO has decided to play 
hardball with Israel on the cultural diversity 
convention. 
 
3. (C) As reported reftels, the French have been 
putting strong pressure on Israel to withdraw its 
support for the US position on the UNESCO cultural 
diversity convention.  First the French ambassador to 
UNESCO told the new Israeli ambassador that France 
would not support Israel for the World Heritage 
Committee as long as Israel supported the US on the 
convention (ref a).  This message was reinforced by the 
French culture minister in a subsequent meeting with 
Kornbluth(ref b). 
 
4. (C) Now Kornbluth reports that an EU official, 
during a meeting at the foreign ministry, made not so 
veiled threats that if Israel continues to support the 
US position on the convention, none of the 25 EU 
countries will support Israel's bid for the World 
Heritage Committee.  Kornbluth has made it clear that 
Israel will resist this intimidation and stick with the 
US.  For now, though, he will not answer the Europeans 
because he wants to see what else they will "offer." 
 
5. (C) Comment.  Israel has stuck its neck out to 
support us and needs to be thanked.  One way to do this 
would be to commit to support them for their World 
Heritage Committee run.  As for the EU, we are reminded 
of the adage, "With friends like these..." 
 
OLIVER