Kiribati abstains on Unesco language protection (fwd)

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Kiribati abstains on Unesco language protection

Posted at 07:13 on 19 October, 2005 UTC
Radio New Zealand International
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=20012

Kiribati and Australia have been the only two countries to abstain in a
UNESCO vote aimed at protecting linguistic minorities.

The commission vote in Paris was on a text that affirmed the sovereign
right of countries to protect and promote the diversity of cultural
expressions on their territory and in international trade.

The text was approved by 151 countries and opposed by the United States
and Israel.

The US says the text could be used to limit the freedom of expression.
Many UNESCO members see the convention as a tool for protecting their
local creative industries against American dominance.

The text will go to a plenary UNESCO session in Paris tomorrow.