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.

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WILKINS