Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

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

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

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05PARIS4304, FRENCH VIEWS ON UNESCO BIOETHICS DECLARATION

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. #05PARIS4304.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05PARIS4304 2005-06-17 13:56 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Paris
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 004304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/T WINNIE ROBERTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO FR UNESCO KSCI
SUBJECT: FRENCH VIEWS ON UNESCO BIOETHICS DECLARATION 
 
Ref:  State 109242 
 
1.  On June 16, Embassy Paris Acting Science Counselor met 
with Ambassador Gabriel Keller, who will be heading the GOF 
delegation to the June 20-24 negotiating session in Paris. 
Ambassador Keller mentioned that his delegation will include 
representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Health 
Ministry, the Cooperation Ministry (USAID-equivalent), and 
subject-matter experts from the French mission to UNESCO and 
from the French National Bioethics Advisory Commission 
(CCNE). 
 
2.  Regarding UNESCO's draft declaration on bioethics, 
Keller noted that, while it is true that the preliminary 
draft declaration is not agreed text, it is the result of 
two years of discussions with member state representatives. 
 
3.  In general terms, Keller said that the French position 
on negotiating this text is pragmatic with a "spirit of 
compromise" on issues about which some countries feel very 
strongly.  One such issue is the mention of the environment 
and/or sustainable development.  Keller said that France is 
flexible on this issue, but he believes that countries from 
the southern hemisphere, i.e. developing countries -- 
particularly those countries from Latin America -- feel very 
strongly about this.  Keller agrees that the focus of the 
declaration is and should be bioethics as they pertain to 
human biology and human health, but France is willing to 
"pay lip service" to the environment and sustainable 
development in order to achieve a consensus. 
 
4.  Keller saw no problem with inclusion of "respect for 
human life" in the declaration.  However, he noted that many 
countries have a problem with the Costa Rican amendment, 
which advocates "full respect for human health."  Keller 
thought the core of the problem came from the French and 
Spanish translations of the word "full" to "absolut" or 
"absoluto" which would conflict with both abortion and the 
death penalty. 
 
5.  Keller mentioned that he had already been in touch with 
the U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO on these issues and 
appreciated the opportunity to iron out differences 
beforehand.  He also looked forward to working with the U.S. 
delegation next week. 
 
WOLFF