Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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04OTTAWA3187 | 2004-11-26 12:50:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ottawa |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003187 |
1. (U) Ambassador Cellucci delivered ref A demarche with Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Tange November 24 to Mark Bailey, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East. Ambassador Cellucci stressed the importance the United States, and Secretary Powell personally, place on high-level attendance at the Forum for the Future and urged the GOC to make every effort for Foreign Minister Pettigrew to attend. Bailey said that while several days ago it looked unlikely that the FM could travel due to key votes in Parliament (in the current minority Parliament every vote is needed to pass legislation), it now appears more likely he will be able to attend. Pettigrew has invited several opposition legislators to accompany him to Morocco so that his missing vote will be balanced out. Bailey said it appears this will do the trick. Ambassador Tange said he also hoped the Finance Minister would be able to attend the parallel meetings on economic reform. Bailey responded that the Minister would be unable to attend, but he will be represented by Associate Deputy Minister Paul Booth. Bailey said he would be attending the sub-cabinet meeting on December 10. Keith Chang, CIDA,s Director General for North Africa and the Middle East will also attend the main conference. 2. (C) Ambassador then asked Bailey if there was any decision on Canada,s taking a lead role in election monitoring in Iraq. Bailey responded that his colleagues are looking at it &feverishly.8 They are cautious about getting overextended, however, having to balance competing instructions by the Prime Minister to do anything possible to help with the Palestinian elections. There are limited resources for such missions, Bailey said, and Canada is already heavily involved in several. He said the government understands the importance of the Iraqi elections, however, and indicated that Canada is looking for a way to be helpful. 3. (U) An article in today,s Globe and Mail was the first public announcement that Canada is involved in talks about an election monitoring role, and reported that &a formal announcement could coincide with the official visit to Canada next week of President George W. Bush.8 The article was a factual rundown of the issue to date, and covered the hurdles of security and preparation time as key impediments to Canada taking on the mission. 4. (C) Comment: It sounds like FM Pettigrew will, in the end, be able to attend the conference. If we do not have a firm answer by the end of the week, however, this would be a good item for discussion with the Secretary Powell when he travels to Ottawa next week. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa CELLUCCI |