INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON TRADE AND

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000099

SIPDIS

FOR EB/BTA, SA/PAB, AND WHA/CAN
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USTR
PARIS ALSO PASS USOECD; GENEVA FOR USTR-NANCY ADAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD AF CA
SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON TRADE AND
INVESTMENT TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: STATE 1211


1. The GOC is not providing any assistance to Afghanistan
for capacity building in the trade and trade-related area
listed in reftel.


2. However, Canada is contributing C$1.5 million (about US$1
million) to electoral support through Elections Canada and
the International Foundation for Election Systems. Mr.
Jean-Jacques Blais, a former Minister in the GOC, will be in
Afghanistan next week to review the nature of technical
assistance.


3. The GOC has also committing funds to support the
Constitutional and Judicial Commissions. This includes C$3.5
million (about US$2.2 million) to the UN to support
Afghanistan's reform of the judicial system and C$0.5 million
(about US$0.3 million) to Justice Canada for technical
assistance to the Afghan government. The Justice Canada team
is at the familiarization stage, but is looking into support
for the two commissions.


4. Kabul minimize considered.
GALLAGHER