Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA1656
2005-06-02 20:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
DEMARCHE: SA/LW NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKING AND TRACING
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 022033Z Jun 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001656
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: SA/LW NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKING AND TRACING
REF: SECSTATE 99866
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001656
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: SA/LW NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKING AND TRACING
REF: SECSTATE 99866
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche points to Deputy
Director Shawn Barber in the Peacebuilding and Human Security
Division (AGP) at Foreign Affairs oin May 31. A copy was
conveyed to the Ambassador Anton Thalmann as well.
2, (SBU) Barber provided the following response on June 2:
Begin text
Small Arms and Light Weapons Negotiations on Marking and
Tracing
Ammunition
The Chair's draft currently includes ammunition. Including
ammunition is an important step towards addressing the issue
of SALW in conflict zones, particularly in areas in which
SALW are re-circulated within the state. In these instances,
access to ammunition plays the key role in prolonging the
conflict. While Canada supports the inclusion of ammunition
in the instrument we remain flexible with regards to how this
is achieved.
Other Issues
Record-keeping: The Chair has ambitiously indicated that
records should be kept for at least 30 years. While Canada
can support this, it would be beneficial to indicate whether
the entire record needs to be retained for this period.
Marking: We are in agreement that marking at import is an
extremely important provision to include in the instrument.
Canada would also propose to include the year of import to
further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
performing a trace.
The current draft requires more specificity with respect to
the information required on both submitting and responding to
tracing requests. Canada is working on a draft format for
requesting and responding to traces (as required in the
Technical Annex) based upon current policing systems used by
Interpol.
The potential role to be played by Security Council
authorized peacekeeping operations in initiating tracing
requests or destroying weapons remains to be systematically
worked out in the next round of discussions. Canada
recognizes the important role peacekeeping operations have in
conflict and post-conflict arenas and would like to see the
ability of these missions to perform tracing requests.
End Game Options
Canada's objective throughout the negotiations has been to
establish a legally binding instrument that encompasses both
crime and conflict situations. We remain committed to
achieving this objective which we judge to be shared by a
majority of participating states. In this context it is
important that the instrument be effective for
"on-the-ground" use of police and peacekeeping operations.
End text.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
DICKSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: SA/LW NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKING AND TRACING
REF: SECSTATE 99866
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche points to Deputy
Director Shawn Barber in the Peacebuilding and Human Security
Division (AGP) at Foreign Affairs oin May 31. A copy was
conveyed to the Ambassador Anton Thalmann as well.
2, (SBU) Barber provided the following response on June 2:
Begin text
Small Arms and Light Weapons Negotiations on Marking and
Tracing
Ammunition
The Chair's draft currently includes ammunition. Including
ammunition is an important step towards addressing the issue
of SALW in conflict zones, particularly in areas in which
SALW are re-circulated within the state. In these instances,
access to ammunition plays the key role in prolonging the
conflict. While Canada supports the inclusion of ammunition
in the instrument we remain flexible with regards to how this
is achieved.
Other Issues
Record-keeping: The Chair has ambitiously indicated that
records should be kept for at least 30 years. While Canada
can support this, it would be beneficial to indicate whether
the entire record needs to be retained for this period.
Marking: We are in agreement that marking at import is an
extremely important provision to include in the instrument.
Canada would also propose to include the year of import to
further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
performing a trace.
The current draft requires more specificity with respect to
the information required on both submitting and responding to
tracing requests. Canada is working on a draft format for
requesting and responding to traces (as required in the
Technical Annex) based upon current policing systems used by
Interpol.
The potential role to be played by Security Council
authorized peacekeeping operations in initiating tracing
requests or destroying weapons remains to be systematically
worked out in the next round of discussions. Canada
recognizes the important role peacekeeping operations have in
conflict and post-conflict arenas and would like to see the
ability of these missions to perform tracing requests.
End Game Options
Canada's objective throughout the negotiations has been to
establish a legally binding instrument that encompasses both
crime and conflict situations. We remain committed to
achieving this objective which we judge to be shared by a
majority of participating states. In this context it is
important that the instrument be effective for
"on-the-ground" use of police and peacekeeping operations.
End text.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
DICKSON