CANADA WILL GIVE MORE -- FOLLOW-UP APPEAL FOR

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003421

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND SA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM SENV CA PK
SUBJECT: CANADA WILL GIVE MORE -- FOLLOW-UP APPEAL FOR
SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION

REF: A. SECSTATE 208903


B. OTTAWA 3198


1. (SBU) Steve Blais, who officially becomes Director of the
Pakistan and South Asia office at the Canadian International
Development Agency next Monday, said the GOC plans to
announce that it will make a major commitment to earthquake
relief after it has had time to digest the World Bank/Asia
Development Bank reconstruction report. However, given the
underfunding problem reported by the UN, Canada is
considering a preliminary announcement of C$25 million (over
US$21 million) in new money on November 19, in addition to
announcing the major new commitment in response to the
reconstruction report. (This would be on top of the C$57
Canadian commitment described in Ref B.) The decision on
Canada's pledge in Islamabad will not be finalized until late
this afternoon. Hau Sing Tse, CIDA's Vice President for
Asia, is leading Canada's delegation in Islamabad.


2. (SBU) Note: Blais confirmed that a call for a
parliamentary election, likely within the next few weeks,
could complicate the major new funding pledge, which would
require Cabinet approval. However, the GOC is committed to
supporting earthquake relief and we are certain that funding
will be confirmed as quickly as possible. If Canada
announces C$25 million in emergency relief in Islamabad, that
funding should not be affected by domestic politics. End
note.


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WILKINS