APEC 2006: CANADA'S PRIORITIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 003248

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA AND EAP/EP
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER AND SULLIVAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CA ECON PARM PTER TSPL APECO
SUBJECT: APEC 2006: CANADA'S PRIORITIES

REF: SECSTATE 177258


1. (sbu) Summary: Canada shares many of the USG's priorities
for APEC 2006, Foreign Affairs Canada APEC Deputy Director
Karen Garner told EMIN on October 26. Garner stated that
Canada would urge APEC members to support an "ambitious,
successful conclusion" to the Doha round, and said APEC
reforms are needed to keep the organization vital and
relevant. Other Canadian priorities include an initiative
with New Zealand on private sector development; APEC's
Counterterrorism Task Force's work on rail and mass transit
issues; and APEC,s Health Task Force,s action plan. Garner
also stated that Canada favors extending the moratorium on
APEC membership expiration for another three years. Prime
Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Minister Peter McKay, and
International Trade Minister David Emerson all plan to travel
to Hanoi. Garner does not expect Harper will request a
bilateral meeting with President Bush. Garner also requested
further details on USG's views regarding APEC,s Travel Card
Initiative, whether Secretary Rice would seek a multilateral
meeting with North Korea on the margins of APEC, how Thailand
will be treated at APEC given that country's coup, and how to
best pursue an Asia-Pacific FTA. End Summary

Canadian Priorities
--------------


2. (u) EMIN and ECONCOUNS delivered reftel points regarding
USG priorities and unresolved initiatives for APEC 2006 to
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
Deputy Director for APEC Karen Garner on October 26. Garner
said there are "no surprises" in the USG priorities, which
generally mirror the GOC's top goals. She stated that Canada
would urge APEC members to support an "ambitious, successful
conclusion" to the Doha round, and that APEC reforms are
needed to keep the organization vital and relevant. However,
she said, some APEC members (e.g., China, Malaysia) are
putting up obstacles to reform efforts.


3. (sbu) In other Canadian priority areas, Garner noted a
Canadian-New Zealand initiative on private sector
development, and said Canada would be seeking support for its
multiyear work plan in this area. Garner also stated that
Canada wants to see progress regarding the Counterterrorism
Task Force's work on rail and mass transit issues -- but
commented that China is sensitive to discussing security
issues in APEC given Taiwan,s presence and the PRC view that
security is an issue for "sovereign states." Garner said
Canada wants APEC to endorse the Health Task Force's action
plan from the May Ministerial, and commented that the plan
dovetails with USG views (e.g. on Avian flu). Garner also
stated that Canada has proposed counterterrorism language for
the Leaders' Statement and favored extending the moratorium
on APEC membership expiration for another three years.


4. (sbu) When asked about Vietnamese preparations for APEC,
Garner commented that Vietnam has been "very late" in
providing information to APEC member states, and that Canada
has yet to receive the first draft of the Leaders' Statement
or the final agenda for the Leaders.

GOC Participation
--------------


5. (sbu) Garner stated that Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Foreign Minister Peter McKay, and International Trade
Minister David Emerson would all travel to Hanoi. She said
because APEC 2006 will be the Prime Minister's first trip to
Asia - and because he already knows President Bush well -
Harper will likely not request a bilateral meeting with the
QHarper will likely not request a bilateral meeting with the
President. Instead, Harper plans on seeking bilaterals with
Asian economies.

Request for Further Information
--------------


6. Garner stated that Canadian Ambassador to the United
States Wilson -- along with six other ambassadors -- will be
attending an NSC meeting on APEC this Monday, October 30.
She said Wilson would likely reiterate GOC views, and seek
more details regarding USG views on:

-- the Business Travel Card initiative;

-- whether North Korea should be discussed in Hanoi, and
whether the USG would seek a multilateral side meeting with
North Korea involving Secretary Rice. (Garner asked if the

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USG might support a statement regarding North Korea, saying
there is a precedent.)

-- addressing the situation in Thailand given the recent
coup; and

-- how best pursue an FTA in the Asia-Pacific region.

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WILKINS