Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 15908 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### 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
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### 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
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA AID ATRN ADCO AND ABUD ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ANARCHISTS AL AADP ANET AGRICULTURE AGAO AMED AY AORG ASEAN AO AROC ACABQ AINF ARF APCS AODE AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BO BE BH BTIO BX BMGT BILAT BP BC BIDEN BBG BF BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CW CM CONS CDC CR CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CAPC CTR CBE CACS COM COE CARSON COUNTER CFED CIVS CV COPUOS CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DE DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DK DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ENGR ELECTIONS ERNG ECIP EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV ETRAD EPA ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ECOSOC EAIDS EUREM EFINECONCS EPREL ECA EDU EINVEFIN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAO FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FM FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GY GLOBAL GCC GC GV GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GH GE GANGS GTMO GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HN HURI HU HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ISCON IADB ITPGOV ITALIAN ID ICRC INR ICAO IFAD IPR IRAQ INMARSAT INRA INTERNAL IO IQ ICJ ILC INDO IRS ICTY IIP ITRA IEFIN IA INTERPOL IEA INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSAF KSTC KICC KIRC KIDE KNUC KNUP KSEO KCFE KPWR KBCT KR KREC KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHLS KOCI KREL KMPI KPRP KAUST KPAOPREL KPRV KCRIM KMCC KCRCM KPAONZ KNAR KHDP KHIV KTRD KTAO KWAC KJUST KTBT KGIT KHSA KVIR KFSC KX KO KMRS KSCI KPOA KNPP KACT KVRP KBTS KAWK KENV KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KMFO KCOM KAID KTLA KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LO LH LAB LTTE LU LA LI LG LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MCC MCA MU ML MIL MTCR MEPP MG MAR MZ MD MP MR MAPP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MN MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NA NP NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NR NGO NATOIRAQ NE NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OSCI OPAD ODIP OPEC OFDP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE ODPC OFFICIALS OSHA OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PNAT PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ PO PRELPK PAIGH PROG POLITICAL PJUS PDOV PAO PBTSRU PGOR PMIL PARMS PINO PRAM PSI PG PREO PGOF PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE ROOD RO RELAM REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SENS SEN SN SC SF SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SL SAARC STEINBERG SARS SWE SG SCRS SNARIZ SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TRSY TP TZ TN TC TR TINT TF TK TRAD TT TD TWI TL TV TERRORISM TO TURKEY TSPAM TRT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UNHRC UY USPS UNSCR UNESCO UNFICYP USAID UV UNMIC UNCHR USUN UNDP USOAS USGS UNHCR UNEP UA USNC UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VTEG VTIZ VISIT VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WI WZ WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XB XU XE XV XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZK ZO ZL ZH ZT ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 03HALIFAX119, HALIFAX CULTURAL DIVERSITY SEMINAR

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. #03HALIFAX119.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
03HALIFAX119 | 2003-04-09 19:13 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Halifax

`

    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 HALIFAX 0119

    SIPDIS

    PARIS FOR BRIAN AGGELER/HENRY KELLEY
    OTTAWA FOR DAVID BURNETT
    GENEVA FOR USMISSION AND USTR MISSION

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETRD KPAO SCUL UNESCO
    SUBJECT:  HALIFAX CULTURAL DIVERSITY SEMINAR

    -----------
    Summary
    -----------
    ¶1.  The Department of Canadian Heritage hosted a seminar on a
    proposed International Instrument on Cultural Diversity (IICD)
    in Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 27-28, 2003. Most of the
    discussion focused on audiovisual trade issues.  Culture
    ministry officials and NGO representatives argued that a new
    instrument was necessary to promote and preserve their
    countries' cultural diversity and counteract "the corrosive
    effects of globalization."  The U.S. delegation and trade
    ministry officials in other delegations noted
    that WTO disciplines have proved sufficiently flexible to
    address legitimate cultural concerns in the audiovisual sector.
    (This cable was prepared by Dan Clune and Eliza Koch of
    EB/EPPD/PA, who participated in the Halifax seminar.)  End
    Summary.

    ----------------------
    A Focus On Audiovisual
    ----------------------
    ¶2.  Representatives from 20 countries (vast majority from the
    Western Hemisphere), 8 multilateral organizations, and 17 civil
    society organizations participated in the Experts Seminar on
    cultural diversity.  USG attendees included Daniel Clune and
    Eliza Koch of the State Department's Economic Bureau and David
    Taylor of the Library of Congress.  The seminar was designed to
    "further informal discussions and facilitate an exchange of
    views" on cultural diversity, particularly among trade and
    cultural officials.  Many foreign government representatives who
    were present at the Experts Seminar are also members of the
    informal group of culture ministers called the International
    Network on Cultural Policy (INCP).  In February 2003, the group
    met with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
    Organization (UNESCO) Director General Matsuura and asked UNESCO
    to assume responsibility for a cultural diversity instrument the
    INCP had drafted.  Many representatives of the non-governmental
    arm of INCP, called the International Network for Cultural
    Diversity (INCD) also participated in the seminar.

    ¶3.  Although the term "cultural diversity" embraces concerns
    ranging from the right to express one's culture to preservation
    of languages and indigenous artifacts, the discussion was
    focused almost entirely on the rules governing trade in
    audiovisual goods and services.  James Early of the Smithsonian
    Institution, who attended the meeting as an NGO representative,
    told participants they needed to broaden the discussion to
    matters such as cultural diversity within nations and across
    national borders and to the representation of indigenous people
    in cultural institutions and at the seminar itself.

    ¶4.  David Taylor of the Library of Congress gave a presentation
    on several U.S. institutions, which are responsible for the
    collection, documentation, preservation, celebration, and
    display of the multi-cultural expressive traditions of the
    United States.  Taylor highlighted the programs of the National
    Endowment for the Arts, Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian
    Institution.  He also explained that state and local
    involvement, as well as NGO participation, play an important
    role in preserving and promoting the cultural diversity of the
    United States.  The USG delegation provided a fact sheet at the
    seminar which previewed the work of the three federal
    institutions mentioned above as well as that of the National
    Endowment for the Humanities, and the State Department's
    Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.

    --------------------------
    The Case For an Instrument
    --------------------------
    ¶5.  Culture ministry officials and NGO representatives at the
    meeting agreed on the need for a Cultural Diversity Convention.
    Jean-Pierre Blais, the Assistant Deputy Minister at the
    Department of Canadian Heritage, opened the meeting by noting
    that, "Existing global trade rules are based solely on economic
    principles."  Gary Neil of the Canadian Conference of the Arts
    said a new agreement was necessary to counteract the "corrosive
    effect of globalization on culture."  David Diaz of UNCTAD
    claimed that "there was a consensus that the WTO was not the
    appropriate forum for dealing with these issues," noting that
    "there was one dominant player in the world economy which
    controls the distribution of audiovisual goods and services" and
    that a new instrument would "protect culture form the
    undesirable effects of trade."  Phil Stone from the Department
    of Canadian Heritage cautioned countries against making new
    trade commitments while an instrument was being negotiated.

    ---------------------------------------------
    A Different Perspective from Trade Ministries
    ---------------------------------------------
    ¶6.  The Canadian government made a conscious effort to include
    officials from trade ministries in the seminar, and those
    officials brought a different perspective to the discussion.
    Michael Brock from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs
    and International Trade noted the need to reconcile domestic
    cultural polices and international trade rules and said that the
    objective could only be met by engaging both culture and trade
    ministries.  State Department official Daniel Clune highlighted,
    in his presentation to the group, the different strategies
    appropriate for addressing different cultural diversity
    concerns.  He suggested that WTO disciplines have proved
    sufficiently flexible to address legitimate cultural concerns,
    and that the WTO is the best forum for addressing the cultural
    concerns surrounding trade in audiovisual goods and services.
    Guillermo Malpica Soto from the Mexican Secretariat of the
    Economy agreed on the flexibility provided by the GATS and urged
    participants to look for complimentarity between trade and
    cultural agreements.

    ¶7.  Alberto Luiz Pinto Choelho from the WTO office in the
    Brazilian Ministry of International Relations noted that the
    INCP draft instrument, which would require signatories to
    consult "when they are called upon to make commitments that
    could put at risk the preservation of cultural diversity," could
    subject countries to dispute settlement proceedings in two
    different international organizations.  He emphasized the need
    for any agreement on cultural diversity to have "complimentarity
    with the GATS" and suggested that it be negotiated within the
    WTO as a GATS reference paper.  Kimmo Aulake, a Special Advisor
    to the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and one of the
    drafters of the INCP instrument, responded that the group
    intended to add an article that would state that, "Nothing in
    this instrument shall affect the rights and obligations of a
    country under other international agreements."  However, Philip
    Stone from the Department of Canadian Heritage said that
    consideration of the issue of coherence among international
    agreements must be postponed.

    ----------------
    And On To UNESCO
    ----------------
    ¶8.  Frederic Vacheron from UNESCO's Division of Cultural
    Policies noted that UNESCO's Executive Board would meet in April
    2003 to discuss the proposed international instrument on
    cultural diversity, among other issues.
    KASHKETT

`