CANADIAN HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE TO 61ST UNGA

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002315 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO WHA/PPC FOR RICHARD YONEOKA AND LAUREN DEACON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE TO 61ST UNGA REF: STATE 112656 This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. ¶1. (SBU) Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Minister Peter MacKay will attend the 61st UNGA and be present for some of the General Debate. It is also a possibility that Josee Verner, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages Minister will participate. The composition of the delegation has yet to be confirmed. Currently, there is no indication that the Canadians will request any appointments with senior USG officials, although the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) is currently working with the Prime Minister's Office to finalize those decisions. Director General for International Organizations Ferry de Kerkhove will accompany the Foreign Minister; Governor General Michaelle Jean, head of state, is not expected to attend. ¶2. (SBU) The Prime Minister is currently scheduled to arrive in New York on the afternoon of September 20, speak to the Assembly at noon on September 21 and depart that afternoon. Current plans do not envision that Mrs. Harper will accompanying him. Foreign Minister MacKay is expected to be in New York from September 18 through 23, although there is a possibility that his stay could be shortened. ¶3. (SBU) It is likely that four to six opposition Members of Parliament (MP) will travel with the ministers. When Parliament is in session (NOTE: Parliament returns on September 18. END NOTE),it is required that two MPs accompany each minister who travels. The decisions could, however, come at the last minute, owing to the fact that the opposition parties themselves must agree to send their MPs and identify which ones will go. ¶4. (U) Post will send additional information as it becomes available. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS