In January, I learned that UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee would meet July 5 - 17, in South africa. as chairman of Sovereignty International, Inc., I applied for credentials to attend this meeting as an NGO observer, as I had done nearly two-dozen times to attend other U.N. meetings around the world. This time, however, I asked for permission to video tape the proceedings.
Knowing that despite its claims of "transparency," the U.N. really doesn’t want the world to see how it conducts business, I asked Senator Frist, and Congressman Richard Pombo to intervene on our behalf, and help us get this special permission. after all, we had video taped the proceeding of the House Resources Committee, and other official U.S. government functions. There should be no reason why we could not tape a U.N. meeting.
Congressman Pombo contacted the U.S. ambassador to UNESCO, Louise V. Oliver, stationed in Paris. Ms. Oliver contacted the Secretary of the World Heritage Committee, Francesco Bandarin, and asked him to personally attend to our request.
We heard nothing from the WHC. On May 10, I wrote directly to Mr. Bandarin, explaining that we routinely filmed the operations of our government, and that our members, and the american people would benefit by seeing the WHC in operation. Still, no reply.
Finally, on June 22, barely two-weeks before the event, the letter came. We would be welcome to attend, subject to the committee’s final approval at the event, but no video taping. With less than two weeks to arrange travel and hotel accommodations, and no guarantee that we could even get into the meetings, we did not go.
Congressman Pombo was not happy. He immediately sent the following letter to UNESCO’s WHC:
U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Resources,
Washington , DC , July 12, 2005.
Hon. FRaNCESCO BaNDaRIN,
Secretary, UNESCO WorId Heritage Committee, Paris , France
DEaR DIRECTOR BaNDaRIN: as you may know, the House Committee on Resources has jurisdiction over the United States ' participation in the World Heritage Convention. Earlier this year, I was contacted by Mr. Henry Lamb of Sovereignty International requesting the Committee's assistance in his efforts to tape proceedings of the World Heritage Committee's July meeting in Durban , South africa .
Since Sovereignty International has solid credentials as an NGO and has taped official proceedings of the House Committee on Resources and many federal agencies, I can only consider this modest request as reasonable. as UNESCO frequently advocates increasing its ``transparency'' and this request is not only consistent with but also furthers transparency, it seems only logical that UNESCO would encourage taping of the proceedings.
Thus, I was surprised to read your June 22, 2005 letter to Mr. Lamb which stated, ``the World Heritage Committee is a public meeting, except when otherwise decided by the Committee. The World Heritage Committee has not approved requests to film the proceedings in the past.''
To better understand your decision regarding the request to video tape the Durban proceedings, I respectfully request the following:
1. a copy of the World Heritage Committee's official policy on taping that served as guidance for this decision to deny Mr. Lamb's request.
2. a list of Committee Members (and UNESCO and Centre staff) that addressed Mr. Lamb's request and an explanation of how they interpreted this official policy to reach their decision. Minutes of any relevant meetings would be most helpful.
3. a list of other organizations that have requested to ``film the (Committee's) proceedings in the past,'' copies of any correspondence regarding these requests and an explanation as to how each of these requests were handled.
Finally, I would like to meet with you on this and other matters when you next visit Washington , DC . It would allow us both to better understand each other's concerns.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and a timely reply on this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard W. Pombo,
Chairman.
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