FOLLOW-UP TO REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT

S E C R E T OTTAWA 003638

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2015
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER KAWC PHUM PREF PINR CA
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP TO REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT

REF: (A) STATE 215194 (B) OTTAWA 3065 (C) STATE 183800

Classified By: POLITICAL M/C Brian Flora. Reason 1.4 (b and (d).


1. (U) This is an action message. See para 6.


2. (S) Polmiloff met with Senior Advisor for Migration and
Refugees Kathy Porter on December 9 to discuss Uighur
resettlement. Other meeting participants were China and
Mongolia Senior Political Officer Walter Bernyck, and U.S.
Relations Political Officer Greg Veysey.


3. (S) Responding to demarche points in ref A, Porter
welcomed the additional information provided by USG. She
reported that her initial interagency consultations regarding
possible resettlement of 15 Uighur detainees in Canada had
revealed "no enthusiasm" for taking them in. At the same
time, she emphasized that the government has not taken a
formal position.


4. (S) Porter explained that Canada's immigration laws were
similar to those of the United States, and the same concerns
that likely rendered Uighur detainees ineligible for
admission to the U.S. would be applicable to Canada. Though
Porter cited general "security concerns" she took on board
the point that it wouldn't make sense for the USG to advocate
Uighur resettlement in Canada if there were strong security
implications for the United States. Poloff reiterated the
high-level interest in Washington regarding this matter.
Veysey observed privately (protect) that the matter
definitely was not/not closed and that Uighur resettlement
presented an "opportunity" (for the government to demonstrate
good will to the U.S.).


5. (S) Porter affirmed that the Canadian diplomatic note on
resettlement of certain cases requiring international
protection (ref B) would be the appropriate vehicle for
requesting Uighur resettlement. Alluding to the Haitian case
of December 2004, however, she emphasized the importance of
preliminary "unofficial exchanges" (consultations) to pave
the way before invoking that mechanism. In all likelihood,
the resettlement of Uighur detainees would require a very
senior (Immigration Minister) political decision, she said.
Porter noted that there was still a great deal of sensitivity
related to last summer's dismissal of former Minister Judy
Sgroh over her inappropriate approvals of special permits for
refugees.


6. (S) Porter and Veysey requested the following additional
information to assist Canadian deliberations:

-- Has China approached the USG officially regarding the
Uighurs?
-- USG determined that 5 of the 15 no longer met the criteria
as enemy combatants by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal;
what about the remaining 10? What type of "screening" took
place in their cases?
-- What other countries has USG approached regarding
resettlement of Uighurs?


7. (S) COMMENT: Following the November 29 dissolution of the
government, Canada is in the middle of a tumultuous election
campaign, where the ruling party's record on U.S.-Canada
relations, the war in Iraq and detentions of terror suspects,
is under close scrutiny. It seems inevitable that a decision
by Immigration Canada to accept Uighurs for resettlement
would require the support of senior political levels (i.e.
Cabinet Ministers). What is unclear, however, is the
likelihood of a decision between now and the January 23
election. Post will try to raise Uighur resettlement at
senior levels of other ministries and report as appropriate.
END COMMENT.

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WILKINS