CANADA ON ESDI/P AND EU BALKANS OPERATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000144 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2013 TAGS: PREL EU CA BK NATO SUBJECT: CANADA ON ESDI/P AND EU BALKANS OPERATIONS REF: (A) STATE 9301 (B) 02 OTTAWA 1247 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Canada is pleased with the upswing in NATO-EU relations in the wake of the Prague and Copenhagen summits (reftel A),but shares our concern about unity of command issues. Lisa Helfand, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for Defense and Security Relations, told us that Canada still had questions about how EU command will be embedded in NATO command, and about EU access to NATO assets. That said, Canada will be "more than happy" if the EU is able to play a greater security role in the Balkans. Helfand said that while Canadian Forces might participate in EU-led efforts in the Balkans, they are overstretched globally and would welcome a smaller commitment in the region. ¶2. (C) Helfand noted that six Canadian police officers have now arrived in Bosnia to serve in the EU Police Mission there. This cooperation is part of the Canada-EU modalities agreement (reftel B),whereby the EU will consult with Canada when planning operations and will invite Canada to participate in operations where NATO assets are being used. In a NATO-EU exercise later this year, Canada plans to participate on both the NATO and EU sides, allowing it to test out its new agreement with the EU. CELLUCCI