Bid for French cuisine as UNESCO heritage to flop: official

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — France's bid, backed by famous chefs, to have its cuisine added to UNESCO's list of world cultural treasures is likely to flop, a representative from the UN body said Saturday.

"There is no category at UNESCO for gastronomy," said Cherif Khaznadar, president of the UNESCO assembly of states that have signed the convention to safeguard intangible cultural heritage.

Khaznadar said only the elements specifically identified in the convention can make the list of intangible heritage -- and gastronomy is not among them.

"I am afraid that the presentation of a dossier on gastronomy will not get far," said Khaznadar during a round table discussion at the first "Gastronomy by the Seine" festival held this weekend on Paris yachts.

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