CANADA GIVES STRONG SUPPORT FOR U.S. SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 003253 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA AND WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016 TAGS: CA IS KJUS PREL XF MEPI SUBJECT: CANADA GIVES STRONG SUPPORT FOR U.S. SECURITY COORDINATOR FOR ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY Classified By: POLMINCOUNS Brian Flora, reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: U.S. Security Coordinator LTG Keith Dayton met October 19-20 with FM MacKay, Public Safety Minister Day, Defense Minister O'Connor, and other senior officials from CIDA, PCO, PMO, DND, and DFAIT to thank Canada for the contribution it has made to U.S. efforts to improve security in Gaza and the West Bank, and to solicit continuing support for the mission. Canada has three military officers and one retired border official on the Jerusalem-based team, and Dayton told Canadian officials that these officers are worth their weight in gold because of their ability to move in places where Americans cannot go, and for their perceived neutrality with both Israel and Palestine. All officials he met with were supportive of the mission, and were open to the possibility of doing more because they were all made to clearly understand that the USSC does not work with any elements of the Palestinian government with Hamas affiliations. Ministerial officials have already identified a donor and project management team leader who could be joining the USSC team in a matter of weeks. They will also consider the new request of adding a legal or financial management officer on the civilian side, and an officer or two with force development planning experience on the military side. Canadian officials were less optimistic with regards to additional project money for anything other than the Karni crossing because of the strong Tory position against funding for Hamas. When asked how the US was providing assistance to Palestinians, the example of USAID money was provided. The Canadians said that they would consider a similar approach through the START fund, a USAID-like operation. The message from our Canadian hosts was consistent -- Canada wants to work with the United States to find solutions to the problems in the Middle East and elsewhere. End Summary ¶2. (C/NF) On October 19-20 U.S. Security Coordinator LTG Keith Dayton traveled to Ottawa to thank Canada for its support and hold discussions with senior Canadian officials on the future of the mission. The visit was facilitated by Ambassador Jill Sinclair, now Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet in PCO, who returned from Jerusalem recently where �00A;she was Canadian coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. She takes a strong interest in the Coordinator's mission. Dayton was accompanied by his aide, Major Timothy Kane, and one of his Canadian staff members, Colonel Michael Pearson; Embassy Political Officer Keith Mines accompanied as notetaker. ¶3. (C/NF) LTG Dayton explained his mission to each of the interlocutors, praising the four Canadian members of his team and explaining both how the mission fits in the overall Middle East peace process and how it has changed since the Hamas election and the war in Lebanon. He appealed for the continuation of Canadian personnel support and for consideration of a financial contribution. Dayton received a very positive reception from all, with the message that Canada sees this as an important mission and will continue to QCanada sees this as an important mission and will continue to support it. On specific requests he was told the following: -- Overall support for mission: All agreed that Canada would continue to support the mission and that this is exactly the kind of thing it is looking to do in the Middle East, i.e. use its technical skills and neutrality in high-profile missions where it can make a difference. -- Increase in Personnel: We were told that a potential project management team leader is in the pipeline, and that the GOC would consider other positions such as a legal advisor and accountant on the civilian side, and force planners on the military side. -- Financial Support for Karni Crossing: The Harper government established a clear red line on funding for the Hamas government that would be difficult to walk back from now. GOC officials said they would look at the possibility of using START (Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force) money, which is more flexible, to fund some aspects of crossing improvements that would not be perceived as a direct contribution the Palestinian Authority government outside of OTTAWA 00003253 002 OF 003 the direct reports to President Abbas. FM MACKAY -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) FM MacKay told LTG Dayton that one of the largest challenges he faces is convincing Canadians that an international military security presence is needed in order to keep Canadians safe. For the current generation of Canadians it is a shock to see soldiers killed, but if Canada believes in law, democratization, and human rights, it must be willing to fight for it. He said that this is a very short time frame of engagement in countries that have had a long time for things to go wrong and that Canadians must learn to be patient. MacKay said he is very pleased with the elevated level of contacts which his government has with the United States and its increasing ability to jointly get things done. ¶5. (C/NF) MacKay was very interested in how the mission was proceeding and on LTG Dayton's take on developments in the Middle East. The Foreign Minister then said that Canada has a unique place in the world as a respected middle power with a tremendous capacity that the government intends to use to make a difference. One role revolves around the Refugee Working Group, for which Canada holds the gavel. He said that he believes this working group can be helpful to broader Middle Eastern peace efforts since so many of the intractable problems go back to the issue of refugees; Canada is in a position to make a positive difference. Abbas, he said, is not great, but "the best we've got." He also mentioned that since Canada has a mission in both Syria and Iran, it could be a bridge for the U.S. in these places. He also offered that Canada could play a role in ongoing prisoner negotiations. Ministers Day and O'Connor -------------- ¶6. (C/NF) Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day simply wanted to know what more Canada could do and suggested that if there was a need for more border expertise like the one retired Canadian Border Services officer currently on the team, he would support the request. Minister O'Connor was similarly supportive of the mission while remaining non-committal on specific requests. PMO/PCO -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) PMO Director of Policy and Research Mark Cameron said that it will be difficult to provide funding to any entity close to the Hamas government, but that the GOC would continue to support the mission broadly. He asked whether NATO or the EU could play a larger role. PMO Policy Advisor Keith Fountain was interested in what niche Canada could best play in the mission and how to exploit it. ¶8. (C/NF) PCO Foreign Policy Advisor to the PM, David Mulroney, said that Canada was looking for ways to use its various strengths to advance our common ends, and was always interested in coordinating with the U.S. to achieve greater synergy. He said Canada continues to want to play a balanced role and is looking for ways to re-energize its efforts in the region. The FM will be seeing King Abdullah in a few weeks and may see FM Livni on the margins of the BMENA meetings. Canada is looking for ways to get back to playing a positive, productive role with the Palestinians. Mulroney Qa positive, productive role with the Palestinians. Mulroney said he is pleased that there are things like the USSC mission that Canada can contribute to in the region. The challenge is in finding places to put funding that contribute to stability without flaunting the ban on funding to the Hamas-led government. Overall, Mulroney said, the GOC remains supportive of the mission and will factor this in as it looks for ways to increase its activity in the Levant. DND --- ¶9. (C/NF) BG Davies, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, OTTAWA 00003253 003 OF 003 told LTG Dayton that Canada has 19 other missions ongoing and that there is a constant competition for people and resources. There is "no shortage of places to do good work." His command however recognizes the ability of a few good officers to have a disproportionate impact if well placed, and he sees this mission and the Strategic Advisory Team in Afghanistan as examples of low-cost, high-impact projects. Davies mentioned in passing that Canada is considering making tours of duty for key leadership positions in Afghanistan 9-12 months, and that Canada will come out of the Afghan mission with the most combat capable force it has had in decades. DFAIT -------------- ¶10. (C/NF) ADM for International Security Colleen Swords said that it is important for Canada to focus on the supporting missions, not just "the peace process" writ large. She said she is looking at how to get around the current prohibition on funding a Hamas-tainted government and agreed that the way to do so might be to provide funds directly to the Presidential Guard. ¶11. (C/NF) Gordon Venner, DG for the Middle East and North Africa said that the USSC had good reviews from everyone who reported on it. He said that Canada sees a key role in "motivating moderate Arabs," and wants to proceed with increased urgency to do so. Venner said that Canada could continue to support the Security Coordinator's mission, which he sees as one of the "most strategic missions" that Canada currently participates in. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS