Cablegate: Letter to Hhs Secretary Thompson From Turkish

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ANKARA 005866

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL TU
SUBJECT: LETTER TO HHS SECRETARY THOMPSON FROM TURKISH
MINISTER OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

REF: A. ANKARA 1625
B. STATE 54900
C. 02 ANKARA 7265

1. Post received Turkish MFA dip note no. 2003/CKGY/360370
requesting embassy to forward a letter to HHS Secretary
Thompson from Minister of National Education Huseyin Celik
announcing GOT support to the U.S. candidacy to the Executive
Board.

BEGIN TEXT

Tommy G. THOMPSON
Secretary of Health and Human Services

SIPDIS
Washington, DC

August 29, 2003

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I have carefuly read your letter dated July 31 2003. You,
while underlining the decision of the United States of
America to rejoin UNESCO, have indicated the special areas in
which U.S. Department of Health can contribute to UNESCO's
efforts and emphasized the importance of the clean slate
within the Electoral Group 1 during the elections to the
Executive Board to be held during the 32nd General Conference
of UNESCO.

I have taken up this issue with my relevant Minister
colleagues. We share your views regarding reaching a "clean
slate" within the Electoral Group 1 for the elections to the
Executive Board. I even would go further and suggest that
efforts should be spent to attain consensus to have "clean
slate" in the group for other committees as well. The
existing membership-structure requires a more advanced level
of solidarity and cooperation within the Electoral Group 1.
I am fully confident that a workable and sustainable
arrangement can be achieved in line with the goal both our
Governments aim at.

In this context allow me to mention that my Government has
announced her candidature for the World Heritage Committee.
The details of this candidature have already been taken up
with the United States Permanent Observer Mission to UNESCO.

I have the pleasure to inform you that Turkey is looking
forward to welcome the United States of America to UNESCO and
will enthusiastically support the candidature of the U.S. to
the Executive Board.

Yours sincerely,
/S/
Assoc. Prof. Huseyin Celik
Minister of National Education

END TEXT
EDELMAN

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