US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1321

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, PREL, PHUM, SCUL, UNESCO 
SUBJECT: UNESCO AND PARAGUAY: US APPEAL UNSUCESSFUL ON 
CULTURAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION 
 
REF: A. STATE 184292 
 
B. STATE 189518 
C. STATE 192656 
 
Econoff delivered Ref. A. letter and points on October 6 to 
MFAs Julio Peralta, Director of International 
Organizations.  On October 13, Peralta told Econoff that 
Ref. A letter and points were forwarded to Paraguays 
UNESCO delegation in Paris, which is being headed by 
Minister of Education Blanca Ovelar.  Peralta told Econoff 
that he understood from the delegation that Paraguay was 
supporting the original text of the convention, a position 
he said is shared by other countries in the region. 
Econoff delivered Ref. B. letter and points on October 18 
to MFAs Patricia Frutos, Director of Multi-lateral 
Economic Organizations.  Econchief delivered Ref. C. 
. C. 
dipnote and points to Frutos on October 20.  Frutos replied 
that she spoke with Paraguays mission in Paris and relayed 
USG concerns.  She told Econchief that she was informed by 
Paraguays Paris mission that the US appeal was 
unsuccessful, that GRULAC countries reached an agreement on 
the draft convention and that they did not share US fears 
regarding possible abuses of the convention. 
KEANE 
E