CANADA SUPPORTS UNDOF RENEWAL, HOPES TO REDUCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001779 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/PHO, NEA/ARN, NEA/IPA, AND WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2013 TAGS: KPKO MARR PREL IS SY CA JA UNDOF UNSC SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTS UNDOF RENEWAL, HOPES TO REDUCE CONTRIBUTION IN FUTURE REF: STATE 160072 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Canada supports renewing the mandate for the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF),where it currently provides 194 personnnel. Peter Armstrong-Whitworth of Foreign Affairs' Peacekeeping Office indicated that Canada is considering reducing its contribution in the future, and that the GoC will be discussing this with us "at the appropriate time." 2 (C) COMMENT: We know that the Department of National Defence (DND) is looking at ways to reduce some of its overseas commitments, particularly as it begins a large deployment to Afghanistan under ISAF. Canada has been in discussions with Japan for some time, trying to convince the Japanese Self Defense Forces (JSDF) to provide a company of military engineers to replace a similar Canadian company in UNDOF. DND hopes this effort will bear fruit as the JSDF becomes more comfortable working with the Canadian Forces. CELLUCCI