CANADA: SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S MEMBERSHIP IN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002995

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KIPR IS CA UNEP WIPO ILO
SUBJECT: CANADA: SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S MEMBERSHIP IN
CONSULTATIVE GROUPS AT SELECTED UN AGENCIES

REF: STATE 235219


1. Poloff delivered the demarche (per reftel) on support for
Israel's full, active membership in both Group B at the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),and the Industrial
Market Economy Countries (IMEC) at the International Labor
Organization (ILO),to Peter Taylor, Deputy Director of the
United Nations and Commonwealth Affairs Division at Foreign
Affairs Canada (FAC),on November 3.


2. Regarding WIPO, Taylor indicated that the Government of
Canada (GOC) had not yet been approached by Israel on the
question of membership. Although FAC considered our demarche
as prima facie evidence that Israel was in fact seeking full
membership in Group B, he said the GOC would defer
consideration of a decision until a request for support was
made by Israel.


3. Concerning membership in the ILO IMEC, Taylor informed
poloff that Israel had already approached the GOC in support
of their membership bid. However, Taylor advised that Canada
could not take a "forward position," emphasizing that the
GOC, as current chair of the IMET, should remain neutral on
this issue.

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