CANADA: STATUS OF LOCAL LAWS IMPLEMENTING IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001367 SIPDIS STATE FOR L/UNA AND EB/ESC E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2013 TAGS: PREL IZ CA UNSC SUBJECT: CANADA: STATUS OF LOCAL LAWS IMPLEMENTING IRAQ SANCTIONS REF: STATE 123640 Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5(b) and (d). 1.(C) We raised the questions contained in reftel with Christopher Hull, Iraq political and trade relations officer in DFAIT's Middle East Division, on May 13. Hull indicated that Canada had regulations in place (known as the UN/Iraq regulations) to implement its obligations under UNSCR 661 and other Iraq UNSC resolutions. Hull said there are two options for undoing the regulations once the UNSC lifts the Iraq sanctions: the current regulations can either be modified, or the current regulations can be repealed altogether. He indicated that adoption of the sanctions-lift resolution would not be sufficient in itself to permit import and trade in Iraqi products; some action will have to be taken regarding Canada's UN/Iraq regulations. ¶2. (C) As to the time required, Hull said that the repeal of the regulations could be accomplished fairly quickly. However, if the regulations are either modified or replaced with new regulations, this would take longer. He noted that the process of repealing them would be initiated by DFAIT, go to the Privy Council for review, and then to the Governor General for formal approval. Hull felt it would be difficult to begin the process before UNSC adoption of the sanctions-lift resolution, although he promised to confer with DFAIT's legal division on this point. CELLUCCI