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
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