Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA933
2005-03-30 23:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

PROPOSED AGENDA FOR 2005 U.S.-CANADA

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS CA IDR LTG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000933 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/PMAT, PM/RSAT, WHA/CAN, WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS CA IDR LTG
SUBJECT: PROPOSED AGENDA FOR 2005 U.S.-CANADA
POLITICAL-MILITARY CONSULTATIONS

REF: SECSTATE 57415

Classified By: POL M/C BRIAN FLORA. REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000933

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/PMAT, PM/RSAT, WHA/CAN, WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS CA IDR LTG
SUBJECT: PROPOSED AGENDA FOR 2005 U.S.-CANADA
POLITICAL-MILITARY CONSULTATIONS

REF: SECSTATE 57415

Classified By: POL M/C BRIAN FLORA. REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Polmiloff conveyed Acting Assistant Secretary Likins'
acceptance of the invitation to attend the first U.S.-Canada
pol-mil consultations in Ottawa to Barbara Martin, Foreign
Affairs Canada Director of North American and Euro-Atlantic
Security and Defence Relations Division (IDR),on March 30.
Martin reiterated how pleased the Canadian government is that
consultations will take place and expressed hope that the
April 27 meeting would form a solid base for regular talks in
the future. IDR co-Deputy Director Gavin Buchan participated
in the meeting.


2. (C) Reviewing the proposed agenda in reftel Martin noted
that a Canadian version of the agenda was in the final stages
of the clearance process and would be sent to the Canadian
Embassy shortly for delivery to PM. Though reluctant to
share the as-yet-uncleared draft, Martin said that the GOC
version reflected Canadian aspirations that the agenda would
encompass the broad range of security cooperation between the
U.S. and Canada, and perhaps identify opportunities to
advance/enhance mutual security interests. Hence the GOC's
initial push to incorporate bilateral issues such as missile
defense, NORAD and NORTHCOM, PJBD, PSI and the QDR. Martin
acknowledged the USG's institutional constraints on this
approach, however, and said the GOC was satisfied with the
concept of holding separate talks on bilateral issues with
the appropriate actors. At the same time, with regard to the
timeframe for talks, Martin said the GOC prefers to fold the
bilateral discussions into the same day as the polmil talks.
Her comments on the proposed agenda follow.


3. (C) Sessions One and Two: GOC hopes for a more fluid
("less cut-and-dried") approach, where the themes in both
sessions might be covered as a bloc. Regarding the
possibility of a briefing on the Canada Command, Martin said
that she had little information available at this time. She
speculated that Chief of Defence Staff LTG Hillier's trip to
Washington next week might pave the way for a "very general"
briefing (since this is more a bilateral issue) in the
context of polmil talks.


4. (C) International Defense and Security
-- The GOC doesn't have any specific NATO or EU "issues" it
wants to raise. Rather the Canadians envision a broad
exchange of views on transatlantic relations, to include USG
perspective on current NATO situation, particularly in the
wake of the President's trip, USG/Canadian thinking on
difficulties at OSCE, and generically "dealing with the EU"
on transatlantic security.


5. (C) Regional Security Issues
-- Martin noted that Andean security concerns (notably
Venezuela) fall under the purview of an entirely different
Assistant Deputy Minister (Americas) and don't "fit".
-- As in the discussion of transatlantic relations, GOC seeks
more of an exchange of views regarding regional
stability/security in Asia, particularly as it pertains to
current China-Taiwan dynamic, DPRK nuclear ambitions, EU
China arms embargo, etc., and exploring whether and how
organizations such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (in which
Canada takes a strong interest) might contribute to
mitigating tensions.
-- The GOC would like to exchange views on India/Pakistan
security concerns. Martin noted that A/DM Wright may be
especially keen on this subject as he will have just returned
from bilateral "strategic stability talks" in the region.

6. (C) GWOT
-- Canada prefers a fluid discussion format, and agenda items
that are less "operational" and more "country-specific".

7. (C) International Crisis Operations
-- Again, GOC envisions exchange of views. Buchan (protect)
remarked privately that the situation in Sudan appears to be
accelerating into a top political priority for the PMO.
(Comment: Retired General Romeo Dallaire's book on the
Rwandan genocide is a bestseller in Canada, has been widely
publicized and avidly discussed. It may be a factor in
Canadians' deep sensitization to the crisis in Darfur. End
comment).


8. (C) Small Arms/Light Weapons and Landminesnonproliferation
-- Martin believes that these issues receive a great deal of
attention in separate bilateral nonproliferation talks. She
thought that they could be dropped from this agenda in the
interest of saving time.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
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DICKSON