CANADA WILL ENGAGE WITH IRAQ GC, SUPPORTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002459 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/NGA, PM/PMAT, EB-IRAQ TASK FORCE, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2013 TAGS: PREL IZ CA SUBJECT: CANADA WILL ENGAGE WITH IRAQ GC, SUPPORTS RECONSTRUCTION REF: A. STATE 238110 B. OTTAWA 01376 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post delivered points contained ref A to Christopher Hull, DFAIT's desk officer for Iraq, on August 27. Hull indicated that GC representatives have not yet been in contact with the government of Canada, but Canada would receive and engage with GC representatives. Hull said Canada will be unable to contribute troops to international stability forces in Iraq, due to its previous ISAF commitment in Afghanistan. He mentioned that Canada is willing to send personnel to help train Iraqi police forces. ¶2. (C) Canada will participate in the October 23-24 donor conference in Spain, Hull said, and it is likely Foreign Minister Graham will lead Canada's delegation. As reported ref B, Canada has committed more than USD 200 million to date to humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Iraq. Hull said it is unlikely Canada will announce any new donations at the donor conference. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa KELLY