CANADA WILL SUPPORT ARF ANTI-PIRACY STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000587 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2013 TAGS: PREL AORC ASEC PTER EWWT PHSA KTIA CA ARF SUBJECT: CANADA WILL SUPPORT ARF ANTI-PIRACY STATEMENT REF: A. A) STATE 45586 ¶B. B) 02 STATE 257819 ¶C. C) 02 STATE 242866 ¶D. D) 02 STATE 229346 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Brian Flora for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). (C) Post delivered the draft text of the ARF statement on cooperation against piracy and other threats to maritime security to Brian Parais, Regional Security Officer in DFAIT's Regional Security and Peacekeeping Division, on February 20. In a follow-up discussion February 26, Parais told POLOFF the draft statement had previously been reviewed by the Regional Security and Peacekeeping Division, and that Canada had sent its comments on the draft and proposed modifications to ASEAN Deputy Director-General Tuy Ry in Phnom Penh in early February. Parais said Canada was very pleased with the U.S. initiative in putting forth a draft statement, and will give its support to the statement at the ARF ISG in Vientiane. CELLUCCI