GOC LAYS OUT THEIR PREFERENCES FOR PRESIDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 002990

SIPDIS

NOFORN

FOR WHA, WHA/CAN/ P (HUNT),E (BORG)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2014
TAGS: PGOV ETRD PREL CA
SUBJECT: GOC LAYS OUT THEIR PREFERENCES FOR PRESIDENTIAL
VISIT


Classified By: AMB PAUL CELLUCCI, REASON: 1.4(B) & (D)


1. (C) Summary - Canada would welcome a January visit by
President Bush to set a tone of partnership for the next four
years, according to Alex Himelfarb and Tim Murphy, the Prime
Minister,s top aides. They would like to use the visit to
emphasize Canada,s commitment to North American security in
general, to address if possible beef and any of the other
trade irritants, to underscore our cooperation on a range of
international issues, such as Haiti and Afghanistan, and then
finally to launch a &Beyond Smart Borders8 initiative. End
Summary


2. (C) On November 8, 2004, Ambassador Cellucci hosted Alex
Himelfarb, Clerk of the Privy Council and Tim Murphy, Chief
of Staff, Prime Minister,s Office representing both the
civil service and political arms of Canada,s executive
branch. The two had requested the meeting to discuss initial
thinking on the invitation to President Bush to visit and,
connected to that, their plans on the current hot topic of
Canada,s participation in missile defense.


3. (C) Missile defense ) The government has &gotten itself
into8 accepting that there will be a vote in parliament on
whether and/or how Canada will participate in missile defense
beyond the decision last August to place the early warning
component under NORAD. Himelfarb explained that the minority
government is not sure it has the numbers to win such a vote,
explaining that the Conservative support is not guaranteed as
they are concerned about their share of the urban vote in a
future election. With his own party split, Himelfarb
explained they would prefer to hold no timetable for a
Canadian decision. With an invitation to the President to
visit, they would commit publicly to the broad agenda of
North American security and give private assurances on
missile defense, but that vote pending the political reality.


4. (C) Presidential visit ) A January timing for the visit
would better suit the Canadians, to allow more time to
prepare and to hold the visit while Parliament is not in
session, thereby precluding a speech before Parliament which
has its &uncontrollables8. Himelfarb laid out components
to the visit:

a. Tone ) Setting a tone of partnership for the coming four
years.
b. North American security ) Committing to the broad range
of security in North America, including NORAD renewal, border
security enhancement, law enforcement cooperation and with a
possible Great Lakes security component.
c. NAI by any other name ) Launching a next phase of
integration facilitating trade and enhancing security.
Calling it &Beyond Smart Borders8, we can address the
package of issues discussed under NAI, but without the name.
Under this would be -- again with deference to language
sensitivities ) those items which would &eliminate the
differences which don,t matter8.
d. Trade irritants ) Demonstrating movement towards
resolution of at the very least the beef issue, and if
possible any of the other issues of dispute between the two
countries.
e. International, third-country issues - Discussing a broad
range of global and international issues where Canada and the
U.S. have worked or can work in lock-step: Middle Ease Peace
Process, Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, proliferation, etc.


5. (C) The Ambassador indicated he would seek to get more
concrete ideas on the timing of a visit this week and that
the Embassy would begin to work on substance of the meetings
both with our Washington colleagues and GOC counterparts.


6. (C) Comment ) A year after the Prime Minister announced
his intention to work more closely and cooperatively with the
U.S., this visit represents an opportunity, delayed by
elections here and in the U.S., to put in place practical and
concrete demonstration of such a relationship. For some time
now, the Canadians have been at pains to stress how much on a
broad range of issues they cooperate with us, despite their
decision not to have forces on the ground in Iraq. In
addition to all the points above, a Presidential visit would
underline for the Canadians just how important getting it
right in Iraq is for the international community, for many
years to come. We would welcome their expanding their
support so far ) ships in the gulf, exchange officers on the
ground, $300 million of reconstruction funding, training of
Iraqi law enforcement. End Comment.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

CELLUCCI