Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA2691
2005-09-07 21:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA SHARES CONCERNS ON UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 072133Z Sep 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002691
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2010
TAGS: PREL CA UNGA
SUBJECT: CANADA SHARES CONCERNS ON UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
OUTCOME DOCUMENT
REF: A) SECSTATE 163224 B) OTTAWA 2649
Classified By: POLMINCOUNS BRIAN FLORA, REASONS 1.4 (B) (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002691
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2010
TAGS: PREL CA UNGA
SUBJECT: CANADA SHARES CONCERNS ON UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
OUTCOME DOCUMENT
REF: A) SECSTATE 163224 B) OTTAWA 2649
Classified By: POLMINCOUNS BRIAN FLORA, REASONS 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Poloff presented reftel demarche points to
Marie-Isabelle Massip, Director of the United Nations and
Commonwealth Affairs Division of Foreign Affairs Canada.
Massip said that Canada agrees with the U.S. on the
importance of arriving at a strong outcome document and has
instructed its delegation (which she described as
&exasperated8) to work flexibly to arrive at a successful
outcome. She said she would reiterate this with them.
Massip asked how strongly the U.S. really feels about the
document, however, and said that while she accepts our
contention that we seek a successful conclusion, is not sure
this is well-known. Massip suggested that our technique of
sometimes entering into U.N. negotiations without a firm
desire for an outcome could lead some to question whether
this is a time when we would be just as happy if no outcome
document was produced. She believes we need to clarify this
with the UN community.
2. (C) Massip shares our concern with the direction the
negotiations are going; the development segment, already the
longest, has grown in the last few days. She believes it is
breaking down to the G-77 on one side and the U.S. and a few
others on the other. Canada would like to see the Monterey
consensus reflected in the development document, with no
blanket lifting of duties, and changes to the .7 percent of
GDP language. Massip said that the GOC has agreed to use our
text as the negotiating text.
3. (C) Massip is concerned with the way in which outcome
document is being negotiated by clusters, which she admitted
is the only way to move the document forward, but which could
also lead to paralysis because people do not see the big
picture. In the end, she concludes that the document will go
down to the wire and Foreign Ministers will have to get
involved in final negotiations. She also assumes that this
will take place when the shorter documents the various
parties have &in their pockets8 (especially the U.S., are
taken out and considered.
4. (C) Massip said the GOC is disappointed in how many G-77
nations have dismissed the need for U.N. reform, and does not
see that the Volker Report will necessarily change that. She
expressed that Canada is willing to be flexible, and it hopes
that the U.S. too will be willing to sacrifice some of its
pet projects in order to move the larger reform agenda
forward. She hopes that we collectively will not have to
forego too much to obtain the support of the G-77.
5. (C) Finally, Massip suggested that it would be helpful for
friends such as Canada to know what our red lines are in
terms of the outcome document, so that Canada can be as
supportive as possible in the negotiations, and not
accidentally cross them. The only way to negotiate with the
G-77 is through blocs.
6. (C) In an earlier conversation with Acting Deputy Minister
Michael Small on development issues in the UN, (ref b),
Poloff was told that the GOC would like to emphasize the
importance it places on the issue of the responsibility to
protect, which is Canada,s number one issue in the UNGA. He
said the public comments by U.S. officials on the issue was
reassuring to them. Canada understands the U.S. is looking
to be supportive and sees the issues, as Canada does, as one
of moral not legal obligation. If we collectively manage to
get the responsibility to protect into the outcome document,
it would be very positively received in Canada. Again, Small
said, the GOC is very appreciative of the support the U.S.
and particularly Ambassador Bolton has offered Canada in this
key area.
7. (C) Comment: Small,s comments were made on the margins
of a meeting on development issues, but tie in with the later
meeting with Massip. Canada would look favorably at any
support we can offer on the responsibility to protect and
that overt help with this key issue for Canada would likely
result in political support for our agenda.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2010
TAGS: PREL CA UNGA
SUBJECT: CANADA SHARES CONCERNS ON UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
OUTCOME DOCUMENT
REF: A) SECSTATE 163224 B) OTTAWA 2649
Classified By: POLMINCOUNS BRIAN FLORA, REASONS 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Poloff presented reftel demarche points to
Marie-Isabelle Massip, Director of the United Nations and
Commonwealth Affairs Division of Foreign Affairs Canada.
Massip said that Canada agrees with the U.S. on the
importance of arriving at a strong outcome document and has
instructed its delegation (which she described as
&exasperated8) to work flexibly to arrive at a successful
outcome. She said she would reiterate this with them.
Massip asked how strongly the U.S. really feels about the
document, however, and said that while she accepts our
contention that we seek a successful conclusion, is not sure
this is well-known. Massip suggested that our technique of
sometimes entering into U.N. negotiations without a firm
desire for an outcome could lead some to question whether
this is a time when we would be just as happy if no outcome
document was produced. She believes we need to clarify this
with the UN community.
2. (C) Massip shares our concern with the direction the
negotiations are going; the development segment, already the
longest, has grown in the last few days. She believes it is
breaking down to the G-77 on one side and the U.S. and a few
others on the other. Canada would like to see the Monterey
consensus reflected in the development document, with no
blanket lifting of duties, and changes to the .7 percent of
GDP language. Massip said that the GOC has agreed to use our
text as the negotiating text.
3. (C) Massip is concerned with the way in which outcome
document is being negotiated by clusters, which she admitted
is the only way to move the document forward, but which could
also lead to paralysis because people do not see the big
picture. In the end, she concludes that the document will go
down to the wire and Foreign Ministers will have to get
involved in final negotiations. She also assumes that this
will take place when the shorter documents the various
parties have &in their pockets8 (especially the U.S., are
taken out and considered.
4. (C) Massip said the GOC is disappointed in how many G-77
nations have dismissed the need for U.N. reform, and does not
see that the Volker Report will necessarily change that. She
expressed that Canada is willing to be flexible, and it hopes
that the U.S. too will be willing to sacrifice some of its
pet projects in order to move the larger reform agenda
forward. She hopes that we collectively will not have to
forego too much to obtain the support of the G-77.
5. (C) Finally, Massip suggested that it would be helpful for
friends such as Canada to know what our red lines are in
terms of the outcome document, so that Canada can be as
supportive as possible in the negotiations, and not
accidentally cross them. The only way to negotiate with the
G-77 is through blocs.
6. (C) In an earlier conversation with Acting Deputy Minister
Michael Small on development issues in the UN, (ref b),
Poloff was told that the GOC would like to emphasize the
importance it places on the issue of the responsibility to
protect, which is Canada,s number one issue in the UNGA. He
said the public comments by U.S. officials on the issue was
reassuring to them. Canada understands the U.S. is looking
to be supportive and sees the issues, as Canada does, as one
of moral not legal obligation. If we collectively manage to
get the responsibility to protect into the outcome document,
it would be very positively received in Canada. Again, Small
said, the GOC is very appreciative of the support the U.S.
and particularly Ambassador Bolton has offered Canada in this
key area.
7. (C) Comment: Small,s comments were made on the margins
of a meeting on development issues, but tie in with the later
meeting with Massip. Canada would look favorably at any
support we can offer on the responsibility to protect and
that overt help with this key issue for Canada would likely
result in political support for our agenda.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS