CANADIAN POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000589

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2013
TAGS: PREL PARM MOPS IZ CA UNSC
SUBJECT: CANADIAN POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON IRAQ

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora,
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Affairs Political Director Jim Wright
told us that the Canadian proposal at the UNSC is not an
attempt to mediate, but a set of ideas that might help the
Council focus again on disarmament rather than on internal
divisions. Wright appealed for USG public statements to keep
the focus on Iraqi disarmament rather than on regime change.
As for a potential Canadian contribution to a military
campaign against Iraq, Wright said the Canadian policy
remains unchanged - yes if action is endorsed by the Security
Council, "to be determined" if not. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Political Minister Counselor and PolMilOff met with
Foreign Affairs Political Director Jim Wright on March 3 to
discuss Iraq. Wright was defensive about the Canadian
non-paper at the UNSC on "Bridging the Divide." He confirmed
that Canadian PermRep Heinbecker would be meeting that
afternoon with the 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC
(E-10),who had asked for an explanation of Canada's ideas.
Wright said this meeting was completely at the E-10's
initiative, and that Heinbecker would be in receive mode.
The E-10, Wright continued, are frustrated that the P-5 are
unwilling to budge from their positions and are putting the
onus on the E-10.


3. (C) Wright said that PM Chretien has been in contact with
Presidents Fox of Mexico (whom he visited last week) and
Lagos of Chile, both of whom are "intrigued" by the Canadian
ideas. He noted that popular opinion was overwhelmingly
against war in both Mexico and Chile. Wright said that he
and other GoC officials have also been in frequent contact
with France/Germany/Russia about their proposal, and have
told them it is a non-starter because of being open-ended.
Wright underscored that the Canadian position is very
different, as expressed by Heinbecker in his remarks to the
recent UNSC open meeting. Canada wants the Security Council
to consider the full range of options, but the Council needs
to act quickly.


4. (C) Wright also raised the February 28 White House
statement that U.S. goals in Iraq included both disarmament
and regime change. He noted that Prime Minister Chretien,
speaking in Mexico City immediately after the White House
statement, had been asked by a reporter about regime change
being a U.S. goal in Iraq. Chretien responded that this was
a dangerous concept, and that "if you start changing regimes,
where do you stop?" Wright said that Chretien had been put
in an awkward position, but that talk of regime change would
not be helpful in the Security Council, and urged us to keep
the focus on disarmament. Wright praised a speech by
Ambassador Cellucci and an interview with Deputy Secretary
Armitage, both televised by the CBC on February 28, as
hitting all the right notes on Iraq.


5. (C) On Canadian military participation in Iraq, Wright
said the GoC position has been consistent throughout. Canada
has supported U.S. efforts to bring pressure to bear on Iraq,
but it also wants the UNSC to live up to its unique
responsibilities. For Canada to now say that it would
participate militarily, on the eve of a potential UN
decision, would be very odd. Wright urged us to be patient,
and said that the GoC would quickly make its decision once
the Council has acted.


6. (C) COMMENT: The GoC is relishing its chance to encourage
consensus at the UNSC, however unlikely that might be.
Canada has heard our message, from President Bush on down,
that its proposal is too little, too late. But
multilateralism is an article of faith in Ottawa, and the GoC
believes it is defending the authority of the United Nations.
So long as Security Council members are willing to listen,
Canada will continue trying to "bridge the divide."
CELLUCCI