CANADA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON COMMUNITY OF

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001175 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL CA SUBJECT: CANADA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES REF: STATE 066782 ¶1. Poloff delivered reftel demarche concerning the upcoming April 28-30 Community of Democracies (CD) Ministerial in Santiago to Jessica Blitt, Policy Advisor in the Peacebuilding and Human Security Division at Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC),on April 13. Blitt said that FAC was still considering the delegation it would send to this conference, but she indicated that it was highly unlikely that Foreign Minister Pettigrew would attend. (NOTE: There is widespread speculation in the media that the minority Liberal government may fall at any point, and members of the cabinet are staying close to Ottawa, in the event that a confidence vote is called in Parliament. END NOTE.) ¶2. Continuing, Blitt said that FAC has yet to develop any specific proposals for the CD Ministerial, in part because they view the proposed agenda as somewhat sketchy. However, she reiterated that Canada will be an active participant during the conference, and will seek to follow-up with other countries on specific proposals that are presented. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON