CLOUDSAT CANADA, AUTHORIZATION FOR SIGNING THE

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002785 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/SAT AND PM/DTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CA KTIA PREL TSPA ETTC SUBJECT: CLOUDSAT CANADA, AUTHORIZATION FOR SIGNING THE CLOUDSAT AGREEMENT REF: SECSTATE 163101 ¶1. Summary: Charge John Dickson signed the CloudSat Agreement with Dr. Marc Garneau, President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA),in Montreal on September 14, 2005. The U.S. original of the agreement is being sent to L/T by pouch. During the luncheon following the signing ceremony, Garneau raised CSA concerns about the potential impact of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) on CSA cooperation with NASA on space programs. CSA officials also noted that they hope to have approval from the cabinet by the end of the year to begin negotiations with the U.S. on an umbrella space cooperation agreement. End Summary. ¶2. Charge John Dickson signed the CloudSat Agreement for the U.S. on September 14, 2005 at CSA headquarters in Montreal, as authorized in reftel. Dr. Marc Garneau, President of CSA and a former astronaut signed for Canada. The U.S. signed original is being pouched to L/T at the State Department. Consul General Mary Marshall of the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal and ESTH Counselor Curt Stone from the Embassy in Ottawa accompanied the Charge. ¶3. During a luncheon following the signing ceremony, Garneau raised CSA concerns about the potential adverse impact of ITAR on Canadian participation with NASA on CloudSat and other space programs. Garneau said that the technical assistance agreements on various collaborative programs with NASA contain non-disclosure provisions, some of which prohibit people of certain nationalities from participating in the program. He noted that Canadian law (Charter of Rights and Freedoms) prohibits that government from asking the nationality of employees, let alone prohibiting them from participation in particular programs. Garneau said that there could well be complaints and law suits arising from any hint of discrimination based on nationality. He said he expected to raise this issue with NASA counterparts at upcoming meetings. ¶4. In response to a question from ESTH Counselor about the proposed bilateral umbrella space cooperation agreement, CSA officials explained that there had been delays in getting inter-agency agreement on the proposed agreement. They said, however, that the process appears to be moving ahead now and that they expect to get cabinet approval to begin negotiations by the end of the year. CSA is hopeful that the Canadian Government will be ready to begin negotiations in January or February 2006. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS