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