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 OTTAWA 00003248 002 OF 002 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. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS