CANADA OPPOSED TO IRAQ DISCUSSION IN OTHER UN FORA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000768 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2013 TAGS: PARM PREL IZ CA UNSC SUBJECT: CANADA OPPOSED TO IRAQ DISCUSSION IN OTHER UN FORA REF: A. STATE 70678 B. USUN 710 Classified By: POL/MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5(b) and (d). 1.(C) On March 18, POL/MC delivered points in Ref A to Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Political Director Jim Wright, urging Canada's support in keeping the Iraq debate out of the UNGA and UNCHR. Wright pledged that Canada will not be drawn into such UN "side shows" and will work, as appropriate, to discourage such initiatives on the part of others. Canada's record in promoting the UNCHR as a forum for serious debate was as solid as they come, and it believed that any UNGA special session on Iraq would serve no useful purpose. ¶2. (C) Referring to Foreign Minister Graham's telephone conversation yesterday evening with Secretary Powell, Wright reiterated that the GOC understood the reasons why the U.S. needed to move forward on Iraq and would not engage in criticism and second-guessing. The GOC was looking beyond the conflict, which it hoped would be mercifully short, and hoped for a quick transition to a post-confict phase in which it intended to do its part in a, UN-led reconstruction effort. Kelly KELLY