TAIWAN OBSERVERSHIP AT THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY:

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001401

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2013
TAGS: PREL AORC
SUBJECT: TAIWAN OBSERVERSHIP AT THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY:
CANADIAN POSITION

REF: SECSTATE 130140

Classified By: Curtis Stone, ESTH Counselor. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) As requested in reftel, ESTH Counselor made points on
observer status for Taiwan to Ross Snyder, Deputy Director
for UN Specialized Agencies, Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade (DFAIT). Snyder indicated that he
was well aware of the issue and would pass our views along to
appropriate members of the Canadian delegation to the WHA,
most of whom had already left for Geneva. He said that the
GOC sees the benefits that would accrue from Taiwan having
observer status at the WHO. While not prepared to take an
active role in pressing the case for Taiwan, Canada would
support any consensus on this issue that met the concerns of
both China and Taiwan.
CELLUCCI